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somat

The space shuttle had "steal satellite out of orbit" as a mission profile but I don't think it ever did.

I have suspicion that the airforce interest in the x-47 is to retain the possibility of this mission.

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It did, but only as a test. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/STS-49

I think the x-47 could also be used for an insert satellite in orbit stealthily mission.

Sounds like a lot of effort and expense for something that’ll quickly be spotted by even amateur enthusiasts somewhat quickly.

I think we're talking about the X-37, which is a secretive unmanned shuttle.

There is a lot of speculation about the possible uses and missions for the X-37. Amateur astronomers enjoy trying to locate it, but it keeps manoeuvring!

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boeing_X-37#Speculation_regard...

yes that was it, now I feel several sorts of awkward as I specifically looked it up because I could not remember the designation and yet, still somewhere between the list of x-planes and the comment entry the X-37(reusable baby space shuttle thing) became the X-47(stealth unmanned aircraft). Thanks for the catch.

Why is there so much secrecy surrounding it? Is it not a publicly funded project?

> Why is there so much secrecy surrounding it? Is it not a publicly funded project?

It's a military project so it's not surprising theres a lot of secrecy around it. Even more so that it's likely related to some sort of intelligence or combat missions.

The entire original design for the Space Transportation System was fatally compromised by the requirement it be able to do that mission, setting back human spaceflight 40 years, and then it never did it.

> then it never did it

Who knows what would be floating around our little world right now if that capacity to grab stuff out of orbit didn't exist, hmm?

do you think they would publicly state they had done it, if they did?

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