I was fascinated by the news bytes on this mystery US spacecraft that were splashed all across the media today. Let me do a recap.
Vital Statistics.
(a) Length 8.8 m
(b) Wing span 4.5 m
(c) Height 3.0 m
(d) Weight 5.0 tons
(e) Uses solar panels to charge its batteries once in orbit.
(f) Was ready in 1999 and had changed several agencies
like NASA and is now under the USAF's rapid
capabilities office.
(g) This is one of the two spacecraft built by Boeing.
Why has it suddenly shot into prominence?
* The top secret space plane had landed at the Vandenberg Air Force base on the southern
coast of California last Friday.
* It had spent nearly two years(674 days) circling Earth on a classified mission.
* It resembles a mini space shuttle.
* There has been spectacular speculations on the nature of its mission:-
- carried a payload of spy gear in its cargo bay to carry out extensive snooping.
- it has the capability to capture the satellites of other nations.
- it shadowed the Chinese space lab.
And the US Air Force put out this comment on completion of the mission,
'It was conducting on-orbit experiments'.
Tailpiece.
While on the subject of space activities, today's also the day when the comet Sliding Spring passed close to the planet Mars, at a distance of 1,40,000 km, the secrets of which were observed by our own Mangalyaan along with four other satellites.
Its vital statistics.
* Discovered on 03 Jan 2013 by the Sliding Spring space observatory of Australia.
* The head is 1.6 m in diameter and the tail, containing debris, trails by about 2,00,000 km.
* Its speed while passing by Mars - 56 km/sec.
* The other four satellites that were observing the comet:-
- Mars Odyssey, Maven and Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter (US).
- Mars Express (European Space Agency)
- And not to forget the two US probes on the surface of Mars!
Vital Statistics.
(a) Length 8.8 m
(b) Wing span 4.5 m
(c) Height 3.0 m
(d) Weight 5.0 tons
(e) Uses solar panels to charge its batteries once in orbit.
(f) Was ready in 1999 and had changed several agencies
like NASA and is now under the USAF's rapid
capabilities office.
(g) This is one of the two spacecraft built by Boeing.
Why has it suddenly shot into prominence?
* The top secret space plane had landed at the Vandenberg Air Force base on the southern
coast of California last Friday.
* It had spent nearly two years(674 days) circling Earth on a classified mission.
* It resembles a mini space shuttle.
* There has been spectacular speculations on the nature of its mission:-
- carried a payload of spy gear in its cargo bay to carry out extensive snooping.
- it has the capability to capture the satellites of other nations.
- it shadowed the Chinese space lab.
And the US Air Force put out this comment on completion of the mission,
'It was conducting on-orbit experiments'.
Tailpiece.
While on the subject of space activities, today's also the day when the comet Sliding Spring passed close to the planet Mars, at a distance of 1,40,000 km, the secrets of which were observed by our own Mangalyaan along with four other satellites.
Its vital statistics.
* Discovered on 03 Jan 2013 by the Sliding Spring space observatory of Australia.
* The head is 1.6 m in diameter and the tail, containing debris, trails by about 2,00,000 km.
* Its speed while passing by Mars - 56 km/sec.
* The other four satellites that were observing the comet:-
- Mars Odyssey, Maven and Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter (US).
- Mars Express (European Space Agency)
- And not to forget the two US probes on the surface of Mars!
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