X-37B Space Plane > GOTCHA < :-)
Taken by Philip Smith on October 2, 2021 @
Manorville, NY USA
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Date Taken: 2021:10:02 10:08:10
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I was in the hunt for the X-37B Spy Plane. I had a chance to try and image the 89° pass over my Manorville, NY USA observatory. The Sun was -15 ° in the east so it was still dark enough to see X-37B on 10-02-21 at 5:29 am EST. This was the first time I saw X-37B Spy Plane. I let out a loud audible "GOTCHA" followed by a huge smile. I just wish the seeing would have been better at the same time.
I found this X-37B Spy Plane informing written by Mike Wall :
"The U.S. Air Force's unmanned X-37B space plane has flown four clandestine missions to date, carrying secret payloads on long-duration flights in Earth orbit.
The X-37B looks a lot like NASA's iconic space shuttle, but the two types of vehicles don't resemble each other in size. The X-37B is just 29 feet (8.8 meters) long, with a wingspan of 15 feet (4.6 m). The now-retired space shuttle orbiters, by contrast, were 122 feet (37 m) long and measured more than 78 feet (24 m) from wingtip to wingtip. Two X-37Bs could fit inside the shuttle's cavernous payload bay.
Indeed, the X-37B's designers originally envisioned the shuttle carrying the smaller space plane to orbit but ultimately decided that launching the X-37B atop a rocket would be more economical. The X-37B has ridden to orbit atop two different boosters to date United Launch Alliance's Atlas V and SpaceX's Falcon 9. Like the space shuttle, the X-37B lands on a runway, plane-style, but does everything autonomously (in contrast to the piloted shuttle, which usually carried a crew of seven astronauts).
The X-37B missions are classified. Although the Space Force has disclosed some of the payloads that have flown aboard the X-37B, most of the space plane's gear is classified, as are the details of its orbital activities. This secrecy has led to some speculation that the vehicle is some sort of space weapon, perhaps one designed to take out or capture satellites. However, military officials have always denied this notion, insisting that the X-37B is just testing out technologies for future spacecraft and carrying various experiments up to space and back. Some of the technologies being tested are likely sensors and other equipment for future spy satellites, outside experts have said. "
My imaging configuration was an Edge HD 14′′telescope with an Baader Red 610 nm Longpass Filter 1.25" on a ZWO ASI174MM (mono) camera and Baader Planetarium Carl Zeiss 1-1/4" 2x Barlow Lens. All on an EQ-G mount custom inside and out with ISS tracking hardware and software system made for me by Emmanuel Rietsch. I assembled and modified my mount and pier. You can see more of my images on my FaceBook page. > https://www.facebook.com/philip.smith.5686 Kind Regards To ALL :-)
Photographer's website:
https://www.facebook.com/philip.smith.5686
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