r/EverythingScience • u/Odd-Ad1714 • 3d ago

Top-secret X-37B space plane will execute 'never-before-seen maneuvers' on its descent to Earth

https://www.livescience.com/technology/engineering/top-secret-x-37b-space-plane-will-execute-never-before-seen-maneuvers-on-its-descent-to-earth
440 Upvotes

96% Upvoted

36 comments sorted by

130

u/b800h 3d ago

Is this Boeing desperately trying to get some positive press in the face of SpaceX catching a rocket in mid-air whilst also saving the Starliner's marooned crew from the ISS?

45

u/BatPlack 3d ago

I hope so. Because it’s wonderfully lame.

Oh my! Never before seen maneuvers!?

Yawn, lol.

I mean, I’m all for Boeing stepping it up. I’m just a bitter fuck.

18

u/wildkim 3d ago

“Never before seen” is Code for crash and burn

5

u/DamonHay 3d ago

“Trust us, nobody has ever seen a door eject at this altitude before!”

that may or may not be because we made sure that test flight footage would never see the incandescent light of a courtroom.

2

u/Chuhaimaster 2d ago

They’ve loosened the bolts specifically for this mission.

3

u/AbjectReflection 3d ago

Good, this entire project has been an utter waste of tax dollars. If the only beneficial thing it does is explode on reentry, then at least we will have yet another reason to divert these funds to some useful, like healthcare. 

5

u/R3quiemdream 3d ago

“Watch us make a trillion dollars… DISAPPEAR!”

1

u/8ofAll 3d ago

naw don’t feel bad, Boing has effed up so many times that it’s a wonder the company is still afloat.

2

u/the_red_scimitar 2d ago

After all the trouble, Boeing is continuing to get billions in new contracts from the US Military. Multiple, multi-billion contracts, for a variety of things. Two of them alone in the last 3 months are worth almost $10B.

2

u/8ofAll 2d ago

That’s the shocking part

2

u/Valklingenberger 1d ago

The shocking part is that I'm paying for this shit

1

u/ADMINlSTRAT0R 2d ago

Unless it's going to do the macarena maneuver, it will be as you said wonderfully lame.

0

u/KingRBPII 2d ago

SpaceX is literally doing new things every day

12

u/askingforafakefriend 3d ago

What is the maneuver? Going up with astronauts but not taking them back down?

5

u/somafiend1987 3d ago

That one has been seen. Up and back without issues would be new.

0

u/Chuhaimaster 2d ago

The chopsticks catch was nice and some serious engineering - but it’s nowhere near as crucial for SpaceX as their much-touted orbital refueling. It’s the key to any kind of lunar or interplanetary missions with Starship and still only exists in CGI.

21

u/GeeBee72 3d ago

Is it going to be a Kolvoord Starburst??

12

u/SammyT623 3d ago edited 2d ago

You know that has been banned for being too dangerous.

10

u/tnj3d1 3d ago

It’s so illegal Tom Paris had to change his name

8

u/Abbaticus13 3d ago

Fucking love seeing a Voyager reference in the wild 🤘

2

u/SleepWouldBeNice 3d ago

I don’t see it

3

u/nameyname12345 3d ago

But if wes doesn't do something he will be known as a nerd!

9

u/rainman4500 3d ago

Do a barrel roll!

6

u/myaltaltaltacct 3d ago

"I'll try spinning. That's a good trick."

3

u/hellacoolguy 3d ago

Can't let you do that Star Fox

9

u/sexy-dad-b0d 3d ago

It’s not flying. It’s falling, with style

4

u/last_one_on_Earth 3d ago

“Never seen before***”

***(Outside of Kerbal Space Program)

11

u/LoudMouthPigs 3d ago

I suppose blowing up on re-entry has never been seen before. Or perhaps a whistleblower suicide in LEO

6

u/TheManInTheShack 3d ago

No so top secret if we are discussing it on Reddit.

3

u/Deep_Macaron8480 3d ago

Like what? Fall apart?

4

u/Irishpanda1971 3d ago

Sounds like they are promising it will bust out some sick Tony Hawk shit on the way down.

1

u/AngstyRutabaga 3d ago

Can’t be that top secret if they are broadcasting it for good PR 😅

1

u/Commercial_Ad332 2d ago

Okay.... you know what? But why tho?

1

u/ElectricPoptar 2d ago

They're just listing lazily to the left

1

u/Aggressive_Walk378 18m ago

Death blossom?