Russian Space Forces: News

Big_Gazza wrote:Still not sure however what utility the embryonic Murkan Intergalactic Imperium can gain from the X-37.  Its not an efficient platform for orbital surveillance due to the small size of its payload bay (part of which will need to accommodate a deployable solar array), and its not efficient at changing orbits for inspection of assets due to the "useless" mass of main engines, aerodynamic surfaces, flight controls, and thermal protection system.  My guess is that it's a tech demonstrator for a reuseable space interceptor, but given that its launched from an expensive and non-military Titan launcher, its hardly a war-fighting asset. That doesn't really matter however, as after all, the Pentagram has never seen a "weapon" system it doesn't like and want and need...

There are two theories. One is the official narrative that the X-37 is a robotic space laboratory used to test components in space. The other is that the X-37 is used to inspect or spy on existing satellites.

Russia has already been testing the satellite inspector for many years:D

Singular_Transform wrote:The most important spec of the X-37 is its capability to change orbits unexpectedly, as during perihelion it enter the atmosphere, and change orbital plane randomly.


Means the X-37 is a very capable orbital nuclear bomber, and its require extreme ammount of work from the Russian / chinese space forces to follow its path.


It can enter areas unexpectedly, so it is not like the other spy satellites that are easy to forecast, and prepare ,like moving into the hangar the prototypes.

Nope, it has little more orbital agility than any other satellite equipped with a re-startable engine bus (some claim that it can use aerobraking in elliptical orbits to adjust its orbit, but that just consumes orbital energy so its hardly much of an advantage).  While its plausible that it can carry a nuke payload, in this day and age I don't think its feasible to carry out a sneak attack as a decapitation strike.   Given that it requires a conventional launcher such as Atlas V to be put into orbit (as opposed to solid-fuelled ICBM conversions) it will never be orbited in any significant numbers.

No, I think this vehicle is a solution looking for a problem.

Part of Russian radar-based space tracking would be establishing orbital parameters for all visible objects, then when they pass out of radar coverage, they extrapolate the orbit and accurately predict their reappearance (the methodology will include modelling of atmospheric drag for those object that have a low periapsis). Objects are re-acquired when they return to coverage and any objects that differ from their expected orbital trajectory will be flagged by exception. Objects that were launched on military missions (such as an X-37) with the ability to change orbits will be priority targets.

Modern computer networks allow such a process to be fully automated, with human operators at Space Defense centers being alerted on a by-exception basis. The result is that the idea that a satellite with a modest propulsion package can change orbit to such a degree within a short space of time in order to evade orbital tracking isn't really feasible, especially a reusable system that must conserve a significant amount of fuel so that it can perform in re-entry burn at the end of mission.

https://www.thespacereview.com/article/4006/1

About Russian optical reconnaissance satellites, etc.In this regard, they need much more optical and radar reconnaissance satellites.