Ars previously covered some additional information on the X-37B<p><a href="https://arstechnica.com/space/2024/10/the-us-militarys-x-37b-spaceplane-is-preparing-for-a-novel-space-maneuver/" rel="nofollow">https://arstechnica.com/space/2024/10/the-us-militarys-x-37b...</a>
I can't be the only one who, when I read "space force" hears a deep, reverb-heavy, Buck Rogers kind of voice going "spaaaaaaaace foooooooorce"
Why might it be desirable to have an observation craft so far away from the earth?<p>I'm having a hard time imagining the advantage compared to being a bit closer, unless it's a more energy-efficient parking situation while the vehicle isn't in active use.
Given the military heritage of the Space Shuttle, I imagine this is what a hypothetical next generation civilian Space Shuttle might have looked like, too.
How does it have enough Delta-V to get into that distant of an orbit? Is it able to maneuver to different orbits and inclination? Is it able to return to earth? Or, is it more of a satellite than a “plane”? This is my first time learning about this space plane, so apologies if my questions are naive.
Interestingly since Space Force was created by Trump who sees it as a prestige project and it depends on Musk's SpaceX for launches this is probably one of the most secure agencies in the current administration.