The United States next week to launch the Earth in space planes flew 2 hours to any location (map) ->>

American X-37B space plane to be test fired in April

Beijing April 17, according to the U.S. "Popular Mechanics" magazine reported that Air Force space plane ready to launch next week, X-37B, at the same time, U.S. Marines have also intensified their activities to lobbying, hoping soon to have their own space combat platform.
Two hours to reach anywhere in the world
In 2002, when the U.S. Marine Corps Lieutenant Colonel Roosevelt - pull side Tante (Roosevelt
Lafontant) first proposed the development suitable for the Marine Corps to use the concept of space flight, the skeptics can not even own the spot, laughing. Now, with the "concept of operations" (CONOPS, namely that the use of specific weapons systems official military document) and has been completed but not yet published the Pentagon-related technology roadmap surfaced, people began to notice a "squad of space transportation and insert "(referred to as
SUSTAIN) concept of the Marine Corps aircraft in space.
Currently serves on the advisory body to the United States military technology - Schafer Corporation (Schafer
Corporation) of the pull side Tanter said: "Later, voices of doubt less, people began to talk about this concept, and then later, their attitude became serious. In the end, we identified the concept of operations; questions were no longer laughing , people started heated discussions in the technical feasibility of the plan. "After decades of repeated failures of the development work, the U.S. military space plane finally win some respect. U.S. Air Force plans to launch in April 19 X-37B space plane.

X-37B is an unmanned space plane, the automatic landing flight around the earth before the number of laps (the specific number of laps are confidential). The concept of the pop-up surveillance platforms the U.S. Air Force space plane program elements. U.S. Marine Corps aircraft in space designed to force the slogan "preemptive" (first
to fight) to the most: This operational platforms within two hours in the Marines shipped anywhere in the world, and to complete the task before them to a safe place.
Known to promote the revolutionary concept of the traditional

Although the goal of attractive Marine Corps - Imagine well-equipped Marines to be delivered to the high supersonic speed, "base" leader of this organization - or Osama bin Laden's hideout was besieged in the United States staged by overseas the embassy - but the concept first proposed, many people find it very strange sounds. Perhaps, with the Marines into space is also strange that the Marine Corps successfully promoted a seemingly impossible advanced aircraft is not the first time.

For example, the Marine Corps made the V-22 "Osprey" tilt-rotor aircraft were being questioned despite strong opposition, even then-Defense Secretary Dick - Cheney also tried to cancel the project, but it still survived. V-22 "Osprey" tilt-rotor aircraft can take off like a helicopter as can be the same as fixed-wing aircraft to land. Space plane concept similar to the Marine Corps V-22 "Osprey" tilt-rotor aircraft, has been actively promoted by the enthusiastic supporters, though from start to finish without the full support of higher authorities.
Marine Corps science and technology adviser Franz - Gail (Franz
Gayl) is outside the pull side Tante, the concept of space flight, another promoter. Though it was not his jurisdiction, Gail will continue to promote the realization of all the spare time to the concept. Hard work pays off. Pentagon's National Security Space Office (NSSO) on the space plane is currently being road map for final review. SUSTAIN program and the Boeing-built X-37B space plane there are some similarities, but the former is mainly to attract the "New Space" companies involved.
In 2009, the National Space Security Office and the Air Force security forces Centre (Security Forces
Center) Air Force Base in Texas Lakelande joint meeting, the United States government officials and private entrepreneurs have proposed the development of new technologies contribute to SUSTAIN. XCOR attending the meeting
Aerospace CEO Jeff - Gleason (Jeff
Greason) said: "We have repeatedly discussed the various ideas. This is an interesting challenge, I have been thinking of such a space plane from the technology works."
Still faces many obstacles

Gleason said that their ideas can not be engaged in various tasks SUSTAIN as a single aircraft, on the contrary, this war will far exceed the performance platform, XCOR Aerospace's Lynx suborbital vehicle or any other private space vehicle. The current generation of private space flight might be able to take sub-orbital mission, but at least now, to reach low-Earth orbit (which is another goal SUSTAIN) is beyond the scope of their capabilities, even the most ambitious private companies as well.
United States, the company scaled complex (Scaled
Composites), founder of Burt - Rutan said, "SpaceShipOne" and "spacecraft on the 2nd," flying speed is not possible to reach Mach 25 required to enter orbit. To achieve this speed, and technical personnel of private aircraft tied only to the two boosters, can they then can not afford to return to the Earth's atmosphere, the thermal load. Rutan said: "They are not good at a satellite into orbit. Designers may be better at starting from scratch."

As the government bureaucracy, SUSTAIN concept still faces many obstacles in this regard. The Pentagon made it clear that, not a penny to SUSTAIN the development of Ti Gong, a space plane did not even give this a formal standard, but that a research and development plans to acquire any of Zhong Yao Jing Fei premise. SUSTAIN space plane development road map of the National Space Security Office has so far not SUSTAIN concept in the official papers. However, La Tante side is, SUSTAIN program to this point has been considered no small achievement.

The plan may only allow other aircraft to join the U.S. Air Force Space X-37B ranks a springboard. Gail said, SUSTAIN concept of ulterior motives, the main purpose is not to the Marine Corps has a space plane, but the development of reusable launch vehicle. He said: "The Marine Corps became the first formal chance to prove this need armed services. Special Operations Command (SOCOM) and Air Force security forces centers have expressed interest; these two departments SUSTAIN application of the concept has different ideas. "

18/04/2010 08:45