A Civilian Role for X-37B?

摘要

As space shuttle operations begin to ramp down, all eyes are on the future of international space station (ISS) crew and logistics support. Several reports, including that of the Augustine committee, indicate that nominal ISS operations will be hampered without a system as capable as the space shuttle. So, the push is on for a reliable system to replace the shuttle.rnWhile it may be possible to sustain payload tonnage to the ISS using a variety of expendable launchers now in service, it appears that there is a shortfall in vehicles able to bring down large payloads after experiments are completed. And this is exactly where the shuttle has proved its unique capability, besides the or-biter's ability to haul a large crew contingent and oversize payload simultaneously into orbit.