Space Plane Reception

[Fellow Aspirant]

Good! the X-37 is back home safely.
Below is a link to the article.

http://www.aljazeera.com/news/americas/2014/10/us-spy-plane-lands-after-22-month-mission-2014101720017113627.html

From the article:

"The US military has landed its robotic space plane, ending a classified 22-month mission that marked the third in Earth orbit for the experimental programme widely believed to be related to spying.

The X-37B touched down at Vandenberg air force base in California on Friday, bringing to a close the third and longest mission the vehicle has undertaken since its maiden voyage in 2010.

The spacecraft conducted unspecified experiments for 674 days while in orbit. The US air force said the orbiter, built by Boeing, performed "risk reduction, experimentation and concept-of-operations development for reusable space vehicle technologies", although details of the missions are secret."



What I find noteworthy, however, is shown in the picture with the article. Two ground crew are shown in the foreground in very bizarre looking suits. Bio-hazard? Fire hazard?
I think there's a good possibility that something's on board that the general public would find dangerous or enlightening vis-a-vis the secret space program. Any info, Avalonians?

Curious.

Brian

[Ellisa]

That's curious!

Why is this craft called a plane and not a satellite? Did it have to be 'driven' in space, obviously remotely?

[Atlas]

What I find noteworthy, however, is shown in the picture with the article. Two ground crew are shown in the foreground in very bizarre looking suits. Bio-hazard? Fire hazard?

http://cdn.i24news.tv/upload/cache/front_article/upload/image/de62be063ce43334cd31e63da1a59de76cac5cb4.jpg

http://media4.s-nbcnews.com/j/newscms/2014_42/722896/10648474_10153540972174897_4818496391379354181_o_0e00c546dc6809b8c6b369ff27d0aca1.nbcnews-fp-1440-600.jpg

Here is what F4guy (http://www.abovetopsecret.com/forum/thread885376/pg2#pid15043997) and Zaphod58 (http://www.abovetopsecret.com/forum/thread885376/pg1#pid15043807) posted back in 2012, maybe that is the reason why:


After a flight, the X-37 will vent off hydrazine vapors. I would want a Level A suit, too. And it uses hydrogen peroxide, a toxic oxidizing agent, as fuel.

Hydrazine is highly toxic and dangerously unstable, especially in the anhydrous form. According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency: Symptoms of acute (short-term) exposure to high levels of hydrazine may include irritation of the eyes, nose, and throat, dizziness, headache, nausea, pulmonary edema, seizures, coma in humans. Acute exposure can also damage the liver, kidneys, and central nervous system. The liquid is corrosive and may produce dermatitis from skin contact in humans and animals. Effects to the lungs, liver, spleen, and thyroid have been reported in animals chronically exposed to hydrazine via inhalation. Increased incidences of lung, nasal cavity, and liver tumors have been observed in rodents exposed to hydrazin

[ghostrider]

Henoch wrote , we would live and work on the Moon , and Mars , and space travel would become routine in the third millennium ... Henoch's words come to pass right in our faces ...

[Tangri]

What I find noteworthy, however, is shown in the picture with the article. Two ground crew are shown in the foreground in very bizarre looking suits. Bio-hazard? Fire hazard?

http://cdn.i24news.tv/upload/cache/front_article/upload/image/de62be063ce43334cd31e63da1a59de76cac5cb4.jpg

http://media4.s-nbcnews.com/j/newscms/2014_42/722896/10648474_10153540972174897_4818496391379354181_o_0e00c546dc6809b8c6b369ff27d0aca1.nbcnews-fp-1440-600.jpg

Here is what F4guy (http://www.abovetopsecret.com/forum/thread885376/pg2#pid15043997) and Zaphod58 (http://www.abovetopsecret.com/forum/thread885376/pg1#pid15043807) posted back in 2012, maybe that is the reason why:


After a flight, the X-37 will vent off hydrazine vapors. I would want a Level A suit, too. And it uses hydrogen peroxide, a toxic oxidizing agent, as fuel.

Hydrazine is highly toxic and dangerously unstable, especially in the anhydrous form. According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency: Symptoms of acute (short-term) exposure to high levels of hydrazine may include irritation of the eyes, nose, and throat, dizziness, headache, nausea, pulmonary edema, seizures, coma in humans. Acute exposure can also damage the liver, kidneys, and central nervous system. The liquid is corrosive and may produce dermatitis from skin contact in humans and animals. Effects to the lungs, liver, spleen, and thyroid have been reported in animals chronically exposed to hydrazine via inhalation. Increased incidences of lung, nasal cavity, and liver tumors have been observed in rodents exposed to hydrazin

They are wearing Radioactive protection suits.(it also assumed , protection from unknown bacteria/life forms.)( if it is unknown, protection can only be assumed)