Bombers ... In Spaaaaace!

[Jared Moya]

As NASA's space shuttle fleet sputters toward a planned 2010 retirement, the next generation of U.S. space planes is gestating in the heart of the U.S. military.

The U.S. Military Space Plane -- or MSP -- has been high on the Pentagon's wish list since at least 2003, when an Air Force planning document revealed the military's desire for a quick-launch space plane that could drop a bomb anywhere on the globe within two hours, without the need of forward bases.

Also wanted is a space vehicle that can repair, deploy and even attack satellites, or insert reconnaissance drones into the atmosphere -- all within hours of orders.

Space weapons experts say the technology is at least 10 to 20 years away from being operational. But a small number of MSP prototypes are being tested in some type of wind tunnel today.

"We know this because it's in the budget," said Michael Katz-Hyman, a research associate for The Henry L. Stimson Center, a Washington D.C. think tank, pointing to line items in the research and development area of the Defense Department’s $400-billion, 2007 budget request.

One potential MSP has already taken flight -- however briefly. In 2004, Boeing's unmanned X-37 orbital plane, originally a replacement candidate for the space shuttle, was transferred from NASA to the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency.


http://www.wired.com/news/technology...?tw=wn_index_4

[MoonMan]

A bit scary.

[meyou123]

Actually it is kinda sad that this much money and rescources is being put into military use and so much less is being put into social programs.

Can you actually win a Nuclear war? I really don't think so.Why? Because even IF you were able to destroy the country that was attacking you, what did you really gain?( Besides defend yourself from being attacked mabye...but it is pretty certian that some of the enimies bombs will fall on your country as well!)

Some would say that they could then take over the land of their enemy...Oh, you mean land that won't be useable for years because of radaition? Or cars because of radiation? Or Homes because of radiation? Even the food would be contaminated as well as the air. And we won't even talk about the burnt out bodies that would litter the streets and rubble and carry all kinds of disease .

So again ....WHAT did you really win?

I remember the computer on the movie wargames and what it said at the end.... "The only way to win a Nuclear war... is not to PLAY!" Now that was just a movie, but those words are true enough.

I think of how America almost went to nuclear war over russian missles in Cuba and all I can say is that I am glad somebody with half a brain was able to stop it in time!

[shawners]

Not space exploration, earth vaporization. The only need of this is to get exactly to the other side of the planet where there are no bases or plans to attack.. CHINA??

[nukehella]

"We know this because it's in the budget," url]

Yep.If you want to know what the military is doing in space all you have to do is look at the budget.Of course it depends on which budget you look at.The public one.Or the real one.

[Jared Moya]

Yep.If you want to know what the military is doing in space all you have to do is look at the budget.Of course it depends on which budget you look at.The public one.Or the real one.

You mean the one that includes clandestine ops? It's all scrutinized by the Intelligence Committee in Congress, but again, you know how Congresmsan lovce their pet projects and pork barrel spending..

[meyou123]

You mean the one that includes clandestine ops? It's all scrutinized by the Intelligence Committee in Congress, but again, you know how Congresmsan lovce their pet projects and pork barrel spending..

And that is the problem! Too many congressmen are just concerned with their own projects and not the good of the country. I wish I could say that things will drastically change in the November congressional elections in the US, but I think one party is just as bad as the other in this area!

And to think that the gulf coast needs funds to rebuild and New Orleans also.....I wonder how much could be saved if Pork barrel spending was drastically reduced?

[nizrulesall]

The world just keeps getting scarier everyday.....

all the countrys racing to find a "better and faster" way to kill and destroy each other...