Comments on: Next X-37B launch now scheduled for early December on SpaceX’s Falcon Heavy

By: sippin_bourbon

sippin_bourbon — Thu, 09 Nov 2023 22:49:36 +0000

In this case, will higher orbit lead to longer time in orbit, for the amount of fuel carried?

By: Col Beausabre

Col Beausabre — Thu, 09 Nov 2023 19:23:15 +0000

But there must be more than seeds on the manifest…

“Rods from God” for Gaza?

By: Ray Van Dune

Ray Van Dune — Thu, 09 Nov 2023 16:57:22 +0000

Falcon Heavy for the win! But there must be more than seeds on the manifest…

By: Robert Zimmerman

Robert Zimmerman — Thu, 09 Nov 2023 16:56:46 +0000

In reply to Chuck. Chuck: Good point. I was thinking mass, but higher altitude is just as important, if not more so.

By: Chuck

Chuck — Thu, 09 Nov 2023 16:53:31 +0000

The speculation is not that the X-37B will be heavier, but that it will be injected into a much higher orbit. The phrase “expand the envelope” would seem to support that contention.

Boeing (the OEM) says it’s good for 500 miles altitude. Previous missions (1 – 5) have a maximum altitude of only 262 miles. Reference here: https://space.skyrocket.de/doc_sdat/x-37.htm

Will be interesting to see what the ground observers like Dr. Langbroek ferret out.