USAF manned shuttle.

[Turbinator]

 

[sputnik]

Heh. Isn't Photoshop wonderful?

 

[Fabri91]

Sadly it's not real, but it would be cool as an Orbiter add-on though.

 

[Turbinator]

For those wondering, it is a shoop of this picture:

 

[Wishbone]

Hmmm... Can you be sure the original contains no sapient beings inside?

 

[liber]

This if fake,no wipers on the window for rain...

---------- Post added at 10:03 AM ---------- Previous post was at 10:02 AM ----------

For those wondering, it is a shoop of this picture:

Take it back,take it back,it's real... :facepalm:

 

[Pyromaniac605]

Looks legit. :lol:

 

[Chub777]

Must be computerized...like Buran.

 

[Krikkit]

To scale with the van in the background that would have to be a hobbit pilot.

 

[C3PO]

To scale with the van in the background that would have to be a hobbit pilot.

Don't be silly. Hobbits aren't real!

They hired a survivor from the Roswell crash. :facts:

:rofl:

 

[fsci123]

Oh it's the x-33 my Favorite vehicle. Unfortunately it isn't manned and it actually is a test vehicle/spy sattelite(?)...

 

[Turbinator]

I was thinking, what is stopping them from using the Boeing X-37 to rendezvous with an 'enemy' spy satellite and snatch it out of orbit and bring it down to the States for dissection?

 

[Orbinaut Pete]

Love it! I want to fly it! :lol:

 

[Ark]

I was thinking, what is stopping them from using the Boeing X-37 to rendezvous with an 'enemy' spy satellite and snatch it out of orbit and bring it down to the States for dissection?

Pretty much nothing.

Except amateur astronomers can track the X-37 pretty easily and would clearly see what was going on.

 

[GoForPDI]

I guess it could be used to ''inspect'' satellites, but I think its more useful as an orbiting recon platform itself, as it can go up and down and use differing orbits..

 

[Thunder Chicken]

Interesting - stick a human pilot in it for the same mission and you essentially have the X-20 DynaSoar concept brought to life (c. 1957!):

http://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2006/01/the-story-of-the-dyna-soar/

The computer automation and remote capabilities today really obviate the need for a human pilot. Especially since the mission duration would be limited by pilot endurance if you stuck a human in there. But man, what a ride that would be!