http://www.engadget.com/2010/03/15/tiny-robotic-space-shuttle-to-be-launched-into-orbit-in-april/ Engadget Comments for Tiny, robotic space shuttle to be launched into orbit in April http://www.engadget.com/media/feedlogo.gif http://www.engadget.com en-us Copyright 2012 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/http://www.engadget.com/2010/03/15/tiny-robotic-space-shuttle-to-be-launched-into-orbit-in-april/http://www.engadget.com/2010/03/15/tiny-robotic-space-shuttle-to-be-launched-into-orbit-in-april/
last time I tried to put myself on an unmanned lifeboat... it became manned. ]]>Mar 15th 2010 12:58PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/03/15/tiny-robotic-space-shuttle-to-be-launched-into-orbit-in-april/http://www.engadget.com/2010/03/15/tiny-robotic-space-shuttle-to-be-launched-into-orbit-in-april/Mar 15th 2010 1:12PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/03/15/tiny-robotic-space-shuttle-to-be-launched-into-orbit-in-april/http://www.engadget.com/2010/03/15/tiny-robotic-space-shuttle-to-be-launched-into-orbit-in-april/
This vehicle is a test bed to verify engineering for eventual development of a vehicle that will actually carry people. This vehicle does not carry people. Therefore it is unmanned.]]>Mar 15th 2010 1:24PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/03/15/tiny-robotic-space-shuttle-to-be-launched-into-orbit-in-april/http://www.engadget.com/2010/03/15/tiny-robotic-space-shuttle-to-be-launched-into-orbit-in-april/
Ok, a bit confused

Are they launching the X-37 (Re-useable robotic spaceplane)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/X-37
or the X-38 (Crew Return Vehicle) (Space Station lifeboat)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/X-38
or the X-40 (X37 at 80% scale) (pictured)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/X-40]]>Mar 15th 2010 1:32PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/03/15/tiny-robotic-space-shuttle-to-be-launched-into-orbit-in-april/http://www.engadget.com/2010/03/15/tiny-robotic-space-shuttle-to-be-launched-into-orbit-in-april/Mar 15th 2010 1:32PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/03/15/tiny-robotic-space-shuttle-to-be-launched-into-orbit-in-april/http://www.engadget.com/2010/03/15/tiny-robotic-space-shuttle-to-be-launched-into-orbit-in-april/
oh,no he di'int!

oh yes...yes he did.]]>Mar 15th 2010 1:51PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/03/15/tiny-robotic-space-shuttle-to-be-launched-into-orbit-in-april/http://www.engadget.com/2010/03/15/tiny-robotic-space-shuttle-to-be-launched-into-orbit-in-april/Mar 15th 2010 3:17PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/03/15/tiny-robotic-space-shuttle-to-be-launched-into-orbit-in-april/http://www.engadget.com/2010/03/15/tiny-robotic-space-shuttle-to-be-launched-into-orbit-in-april/
I'd like to know the ISS community opinion (devoid of politics if possible) of what we should be using to retrieve astro/cosmonauts from the ISS in terms of safety and reliability? More soyuz-type vehicles, or a new lifting body platform like this?]]>Mar 15th 2010 4:18PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/03/15/tiny-robotic-space-shuttle-to-be-launched-into-orbit-in-april/http://www.engadget.com/2010/03/15/tiny-robotic-space-shuttle-to-be-launched-into-orbit-in-april/OR
Does it launch unmanned, and return to Earth manned?

The Wikipedia article says it's a test vehicle. But a test vehicle for the development of what? An unmanned lifeboat?]]>Mar 15th 2010 4:46PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/03/15/tiny-robotic-space-shuttle-to-be-launched-into-orbit-in-april/http://www.engadget.com/2010/03/15/tiny-robotic-space-shuttle-to-be-launched-into-orbit-in-april/Mar 15th 2010 1:00PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/03/15/tiny-robotic-space-shuttle-to-be-launched-into-orbit-in-april/http://www.engadget.com/2010/03/15/tiny-robotic-space-shuttle-to-be-launched-into-orbit-in-april/Just make sure they don't need to teach it about phenomenology :-)]]>Mar 15th 2010 1:28PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/03/15/tiny-robotic-space-shuttle-to-be-launched-into-orbit-in-april/http://www.engadget.com/2010/03/15/tiny-robotic-space-shuttle-to-be-launched-into-orbit-in-april/Mar 15th 2010 2:36PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/03/15/tiny-robotic-space-shuttle-to-be-launched-into-orbit-in-april/http://www.engadget.com/2010/03/15/tiny-robotic-space-shuttle-to-be-launched-into-orbit-in-april/Mar 15th 2010 1:04PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/03/15/tiny-robotic-space-shuttle-to-be-launched-into-orbit-in-april/http://www.engadget.com/2010/03/15/tiny-robotic-space-shuttle-to-be-launched-into-orbit-in-april/Mar 15th 2010 1:39PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/03/15/tiny-robotic-space-shuttle-to-be-launched-into-orbit-in-april/http://www.engadget.com/2010/03/15/tiny-robotic-space-shuttle-to-be-launched-into-orbit-in-april/
You missed my point - the article makes it sound like a lifeboat that cannot take passengers... ("unmanned re-entry lifeboat")

On your note, I probably won't be able to afford going to a space hotel (if one exists) in my lifetime anyway :)]]>Mar 15th 2010 1:45PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/03/15/tiny-robotic-space-shuttle-to-be-launched-into-orbit-in-april/http://www.engadget.com/2010/03/15/tiny-robotic-space-shuttle-to-be-launched-into-orbit-in-april/be deactivated for sure!]]>Mar 15th 2010 6:08PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/03/15/tiny-robotic-space-shuttle-to-be-launched-into-orbit-in-april/http://www.engadget.com/2010/03/15/tiny-robotic-space-shuttle-to-be-launched-into-orbit-in-april/Tiny robotic shuttle takes over the world.]]>Mar 15th 2010 1:04PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/03/15/tiny-robotic-space-shuttle-to-be-launched-into-orbit-in-april/http://www.engadget.com/2010/03/15/tiny-robotic-space-shuttle-to-be-launched-into-orbit-in-april/
Great one, I can see your superiority, even surpassing the effectiveness of Echelon in picking up these messages, from Galaxies far far Away, no less, is truly terrifying.]]>Mar 15th 2010 1:06PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/03/15/tiny-robotic-space-shuttle-to-be-launched-into-orbit-in-april/http://www.engadget.com/2010/03/15/tiny-robotic-space-shuttle-to-be-launched-into-orbit-in-april/Mar 15th 2010 1:11PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/03/15/tiny-robotic-space-shuttle-to-be-launched-into-orbit-in-april/http://www.engadget.com/2010/03/15/tiny-robotic-space-shuttle-to-be-launched-into-orbit-in-april/
THIS is something else.
Think remotely operated payload deployer.

If they actually break Russia's grip and build a viable CRV I will be very happy to see it happen.
The CRV prototype I saw being constructed at JSC in '97 showed a LOT of promise.]]>Mar 15th 2010 1:12PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/03/15/tiny-robotic-space-shuttle-to-be-launched-into-orbit-in-april/http://www.engadget.com/2010/03/15/tiny-robotic-space-shuttle-to-be-launched-into-orbit-in-april/Mar 15th 2010 1:13PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/03/15/tiny-robotic-space-shuttle-to-be-launched-into-orbit-in-april/http://www.engadget.com/2010/03/15/tiny-robotic-space-shuttle-to-be-launched-into-orbit-in-april/The 3rd to 11th dimensions are rolled into the first two.]]>Mar 15th 2010 2:11PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/03/15/tiny-robotic-space-shuttle-to-be-launched-into-orbit-in-april/http://www.engadget.com/2010/03/15/tiny-robotic-space-shuttle-to-be-launched-into-orbit-in-april/Mar 16th 2010 11:53AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/03/15/tiny-robotic-space-shuttle-to-be-launched-into-orbit-in-april/http://www.engadget.com/2010/03/15/tiny-robotic-space-shuttle-to-be-launched-into-orbit-in-april/Oh! I've forgotten how much I hate space travel]]>Mar 15th 2010 1:19PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/03/15/tiny-robotic-space-shuttle-to-be-launched-into-orbit-in-april/http://www.engadget.com/2010/03/15/tiny-robotic-space-shuttle-to-be-launched-into-orbit-in-april/Mar 15th 2010 1:24PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/03/15/tiny-robotic-space-shuttle-to-be-launched-into-orbit-in-april/http://www.engadget.com/2010/03/15/tiny-robotic-space-shuttle-to-be-launched-into-orbit-in-april/The X-37 was developed from the X-40A]]>Mar 15th 2010 1:34PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/03/15/tiny-robotic-space-shuttle-to-be-launched-into-orbit-in-april/http://www.engadget.com/2010/03/15/tiny-robotic-space-shuttle-to-be-launched-into-orbit-in-april/Mar 15th 2010 1:28PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/03/15/tiny-robotic-space-shuttle-to-be-launched-into-orbit-in-april/http://www.engadget.com/2010/03/15/tiny-robotic-space-shuttle-to-be-launched-into-orbit-in-april/Tiny is relative. A planet the size of Mt Everest would be a tiny planet, but you don't consider Mt Everest tiny because it is larger than most other mountains. ]]>Mar 15th 2010 1:57PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/03/15/tiny-robotic-space-shuttle-to-be-launched-into-orbit-in-april/http://www.engadget.com/2010/03/15/tiny-robotic-space-shuttle-to-be-launched-into-orbit-in-april/Mar 15th 2010 1:30PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/03/15/tiny-robotic-space-shuttle-to-be-launched-into-orbit-in-april/http://www.engadget.com/2010/03/15/tiny-robotic-space-shuttle-to-be-launched-into-orbit-in-april/
Why does NASA just keep going backwards of late, rather than pressing forward with new ideas?]]>Mar 15th 2010 1:35PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/03/15/tiny-robotic-space-shuttle-to-be-launched-into-orbit-in-april/http://www.engadget.com/2010/03/15/tiny-robotic-space-shuttle-to-be-launched-into-orbit-in-april/Mar 15th 2010 1:41PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/03/15/tiny-robotic-space-shuttle-to-be-launched-into-orbit-in-april/http://www.engadget.com/2010/03/15/tiny-robotic-space-shuttle-to-be-launched-into-orbit-in-april/
Suck-up. Maybe if he were Jeff Vader then it would be acceptable. Who is Lord Vader any ways?]]>Mar 15th 2010 1:47PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/03/15/tiny-robotic-space-shuttle-to-be-launched-into-orbit-in-april/http://www.engadget.com/2010/03/15/tiny-robotic-space-shuttle-to-be-launched-into-orbit-in-april/Mar 15th 2010 2:34PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/03/15/tiny-robotic-space-shuttle-to-be-launched-into-orbit-in-april/http://www.engadget.com/2010/03/15/tiny-robotic-space-shuttle-to-be-launched-into-orbit-in-april/Mar 15th 2010 3:34PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/03/15/tiny-robotic-space-shuttle-to-be-launched-into-orbit-in-april/http://www.engadget.com/2010/03/15/tiny-robotic-space-shuttle-to-be-launched-into-orbit-in-april/
Actually.....you take that into consideration for how much it costs to launch x pounds. That isn't that crazy of an....yes. Sorry yes it is crazy.]]>Mar 15th 2010 4:24PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/03/15/tiny-robotic-space-shuttle-to-be-launched-into-orbit-in-april/http://www.engadget.com/2010/03/15/tiny-robotic-space-shuttle-to-be-launched-into-orbit-in-april/Mar 15th 2010 5:38PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/03/15/tiny-robotic-space-shuttle-to-be-launched-into-orbit-in-april/http://www.engadget.com/2010/03/15/tiny-robotic-space-shuttle-to-be-launched-into-orbit-in-april/
Do you really have cookies? Or is that just a lie spawned by the internetz?]]>Mar 15th 2010 3:52PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/03/15/tiny-robotic-space-shuttle-to-be-launched-into-orbit-in-april/http://www.engadget.com/2010/03/15/tiny-robotic-space-shuttle-to-be-launched-into-orbit-in-april/http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Buran_(spacecraft))]]>Mar 15th 2010 4:08PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/03/15/tiny-robotic-space-shuttle-to-be-launched-into-orbit-in-april/http://www.engadget.com/2010/03/15/tiny-robotic-space-shuttle-to-be-launched-into-orbit-in-april/Mar 15th 2010 4:30PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/03/15/tiny-robotic-space-shuttle-to-be-launched-into-orbit-in-april/http://www.engadget.com/2010/03/15/tiny-robotic-space-shuttle-to-be-launched-into-orbit-in-april/They could do a normal deorbit with a couple normal Soyuz capsule and leave the shuttle up there as a shelter \ lifeboat. I mean its not as if the current fleet is going to be doing anything other then collecting dust from here on out.]]>Mar 15th 2010 4:34PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2010/03/15/tiny-robotic-space-shuttle-to-be-launched-into-orbit-in-april/http://www.engadget.com/2010/03/15/tiny-robotic-space-shuttle-to-be-launched-into-orbit-in-april/I think it would take some (read: lots of) work to the vehicle before being able to just leave the shuttle in space for an extended period of time. It was made to be powered on (fuel cells operating, computer running, etc.) for the duration of its stay in space. Unfortunately it is not as simple as an Apollo CM.]]>Mar 15th 2010 5:05PM