Military space shuttle
Encyclopedia
A military space shuttle would be the military equivalent of NASA
's space shuttle
. Many experts believed that it is extremely unlikely that NASA
, the United States Department of Defense
or any other Federal agency could keep the existence of such a spacecraft secret, given the official knowledge that stated extensive technical support and launching establishment would be necessary to fly it. However, recent developments, such as the X-37 robotic spaceplane, largely equivalent to the shuttle being used on actual missions, show that this military shuttle is now a reality.
In the design phase of what eventually became the Space Shuttle, there were plans for the U.S. military to purchase some of the vehicles for its own purposes (mainly the servicing and crewing of proposed "surveillance space stations"). The design requirements that thus emerged (in particular, the need for a longer-range glide capability, enabling the shuttle to land at specific U.S. Air Force bases), affected the eventual design of the vehicle, increasing its complexity. However, none of these "Blue Shuttles" were ever built, and the U.S. military turned to increasingly sophisticated unmanned satellites as a more viable alternative.
Regular space shuttles have on occasion carried out missions for the military. It is noteworthy that NASA and the DoD agreed on delivering Discovery
to Vandenberg AFB, first in May 1985 and then in September of that year. Discovery would have been dedicated for military and civilian flights from Vandenberg's SLC-6
launch complex. The schedule slipped until the Challenger disaster
in January 1986. In the wake of Challenger, on December 26, 1989 the Space Shuttle Program at Vandenberg was terminated by the USAF. Military Shuttle flights were conducted from Kennedy Space Center
in Florida, the last dedicated mission being STS-53
in late 1992, deploying a military SDS B-3 communication satellite. Some military payloads have been flown on regular civilian Shuttle missions afterwards.
The Soviet Buran space shuttle was designed with military applications in mind as well. One of the main reasons for its creation was to counter the perceived military advantage that the NASA space shuttle
gave the USA. On the first launch of Buran's Energia
booster the military Polyus satellite was launched.
There have been several ostensibly aborted military programs to develop a form of space shuttle. Given that current, ongoing projects share similar goals and technologies, however, it is clear that some of these projects form a progression of development (from the X-20 to X-40 to X-37, for instance), rather than truly aborted, independent projects.
There have been several programs speculated to exist inside the military world
Military space shuttles have, however, been featured in popular entertainment from time to time.
NASA
The National Aeronautics and Space Administration is the agency of the United States government that is responsible for the nation's civilian space program and for aeronautics and aerospace research...
's space shuttle
Space Shuttle
The Space Shuttle was a manned orbital rocket and spacecraft system operated by NASA on 135 missions from 1981 to 2011. The system combined rocket launch, orbital spacecraft, and re-entry spaceplane with modular add-ons...
. Many experts believed that it is extremely unlikely that NASA
NASA
The National Aeronautics and Space Administration is the agency of the United States government that is responsible for the nation's civilian space program and for aeronautics and aerospace research...
, the United States Department of Defense
United States Department of Defense
The United States Department of Defense is the U.S...
or any other Federal agency could keep the existence of such a spacecraft secret, given the official knowledge that stated extensive technical support and launching establishment would be necessary to fly it. However, recent developments, such as the X-37 robotic spaceplane, largely equivalent to the shuttle being used on actual missions, show that this military shuttle is now a reality.
In the design phase of what eventually became the Space Shuttle, there were plans for the U.S. military to purchase some of the vehicles for its own purposes (mainly the servicing and crewing of proposed "surveillance space stations"). The design requirements that thus emerged (in particular, the need for a longer-range glide capability, enabling the shuttle to land at specific U.S. Air Force bases), affected the eventual design of the vehicle, increasing its complexity. However, none of these "Blue Shuttles" were ever built, and the U.S. military turned to increasingly sophisticated unmanned satellites as a more viable alternative.
Regular space shuttles have on occasion carried out missions for the military. It is noteworthy that NASA and the DoD agreed on delivering Discovery
Space Shuttle Discovery
Space Shuttle Discovery is one of the retired orbiters of the Space Shuttle program of NASA, the space agency of the United States, and was operational from its maiden flight, STS-41-D on August 30, 1984, until its final landing during STS-133 on March 9, 2011...
to Vandenberg AFB, first in May 1985 and then in September of that year. Discovery would have been dedicated for military and civilian flights from Vandenberg's SLC-6
Vandenberg AFB Space Launch Complex 6
Space Launch Complex-6 at Vandenberg Air Force Base in California is a launch pad and support area. It was originally designed for the launching of the Titan III in support of the cancelled Manned Orbiting Laboratory, and was later rebuilt for the Space Shuttle, which also never used it due to...
launch complex. The schedule slipped until the Challenger disaster
Space Shuttle Challenger disaster
The Space Shuttle Challenger disaster occurred on January 28, 1986, when Space Shuttle Challenger broke apart 73 seconds into its flight, leading to the deaths of its seven crew members. The spacecraft disintegrated over the Atlantic Ocean, off the coast of central Florida at 11:38 am EST...
in January 1986. In the wake of Challenger, on December 26, 1989 the Space Shuttle Program at Vandenberg was terminated by the USAF. Military Shuttle flights were conducted from Kennedy Space Center
Kennedy Space Center
The John F. Kennedy Space Center is the NASA installation that has been the launch site for every United States human space flight since 1968. Although such flights are currently on hiatus, KSC continues to manage and operate unmanned rocket launch facilities for America's civilian space program...
in Florida, the last dedicated mission being STS-53
STS-53
-Mission parameters:*Mass:**Orbiter landing with payload: **Payload: *Perigee: *Apogee: *Inclination: 57.0°*Period: 92.0 min-Mission highlights:...
in late 1992, deploying a military SDS B-3 communication satellite. Some military payloads have been flown on regular civilian Shuttle missions afterwards.
The Soviet Buran space shuttle was designed with military applications in mind as well. One of the main reasons for its creation was to counter the perceived military advantage that the NASA space shuttle
Space Shuttle
The Space Shuttle was a manned orbital rocket and spacecraft system operated by NASA on 135 missions from 1981 to 2011. The system combined rocket launch, orbital spacecraft, and re-entry spaceplane with modular add-ons...
gave the USA. On the first launch of Buran's Energia
Energia
Energia was a Soviet rocket that was designed by NPO Energia to serve as a heavy-lift expendable launch system as well as a booster for the Buran spacecraft. Control system main developer enterprise was the NPO "Electropribor"...
booster the military Polyus satellite was launched.
There have been several ostensibly aborted military programs to develop a form of space shuttle. Given that current, ongoing projects share similar goals and technologies, however, it is clear that some of these projects form a progression of development (from the X-20 to X-40 to X-37, for instance), rather than truly aborted, independent projects.
- X-20 Dyna-SoarX-20 Dyna-SoarThe X-20 Dyna-Soar was a United States Air Force program to develop a spaceplane that could be used for a variety of military missions, including reconnaissance, bombing, space rescue, satellite maintenance, and sabotage of enemy satellites...
- USAF program, canceled in 1963 - Project Hot Eagle - USMC program, proposed in 2002
- Boeing X-37Boeing X-37The Boeing X-37 is an American unmanned vertical-takeoff, horizontal-landing spaceplane. The X-37 is operated by the United States Air Force for orbital spaceflight missions intended to demonstrate reusable space technologies...
- A modern, operational, robotic spaceplane, largely feature-equivalent to the Space Shuttle.
There have been several programs speculated to exist inside the military world
- Blackstar (spaceplane)Blackstar (spaceplane)Blackstar is the reported codename of a secret United States orbital spaceplane system. The possible existence of the Blackstar program was reported in March 2006 by Aviation Week & Space Technology magazine; the magazine reported that the program had been underway since at least the early 1990s,...
Military space shuttles have, however, been featured in popular entertainment from time to time.
See also
- Boeing X-40Boeing X-40-See also:-External links:* * * * *...
- Vandenberg AFB Space Launch Complex 6Vandenberg AFB Space Launch Complex 6Space Launch Complex-6 at Vandenberg Air Force Base in California is a launch pad and support area. It was originally designed for the launching of the Titan III in support of the cancelled Manned Orbiting Laboratory, and was later rebuilt for the Space Shuttle, which also never used it due to...
- North American X-15North American X-15The North American X-15 rocket-powered aircraft/spaceplane was part of the X-series of experimental aircraft, initiated with the Bell X-1, that were made for the USAAF/USAF, NACA/NASA, and the USN. The X-15 set speed and altitude records in the early 1960s, reaching the edge of outer space and...
- Rockwell X-30Rockwell X-30-See also:-References: 2. -External links:*...
"Orient Express" National Aerospace Plane - McDonnell Douglas DC-XMcDonnell Douglas DC-XThe DC-X, short for Delta Clipper or Delta Clipper Experimental, was an unmanned prototype of a reusable single stage to orbit launch vehicle built by McDonnell Douglas in conjunction with the United States Department of Defense's Strategic Defense Initiative Organization from 1991 to 1993...
- AlmazAlmazThe Almaz program was a series of military space stations launched by the Soviet Union under cover of the civilian Salyut DOS-17K program after 1971....
- Polyus (spacecraft)
- TKS spacecraftTKS spacecraftTKS spacecraft was a Soviet spacecraft design in the late 1960s intended to supply the military Almaz space station. The spacecraft was designed for manned or autonomous cargo resupply use...
- Merkur (spacecraft)Merkur (spacecraft)The Vozvraschaemyi Apparat , or Merkur, GRAU index 11F74, was a Soviet manned spacecraft designed as the reentry capsule for the TKS spacecraft...
- Manned Orbital Laboratory
- Manned Orbital Development SystemManned Orbital Development SystemManned Orbital Development System was created by the US Air Force Space System Division in June 1962. It was to begin working on plans to use Gemini hardware as the first step in a new US Air Force man-in-space program called MODS , a type of military space station that used Gemini spacecraft as...
- Blue GeminiBlue GeminiBlue Gemini was a United States Air Force project first proposed in August 1962 for a series of seven flights of Gemini spacecraft to enable the Air Force to gain manned spaceflight experience prior to the launch of the Manned Orbital Development System, or MODS...