X 37B Spaceplane Spying Chinese Space Lab

Once China puts people aboard its NEW SPACE LABORATORY, they may have to watch what they say, since some suggested earlier this week that there is a United States' super-secret space plane, the X-37B, currently orbiting the earth on a classified mission. The story, denied by experts, is RAISING NEW SPACE POLICY ISSUES between the United States and China, despite AMERICAN AND CHINESE TALKS on SPACE COOPERATION.

Even though the government won't say what the X-37B is doing on its SECOND MISSION, many amateur space enthusiasts believe they know what the unmanned craft is up to. According to Spaceflight magazine, the X-37B's orbital path is nearly identical to that of China's spacelab, "TIANGONG-1", which is currently unmanned but is expected to take on Chinese national taikonuts later this year.

"SPACE-TO-SPACE SURVEILLANCE IS A WHOLE NEW BALL GAME MADE POSSIBLE BY A FINESSED GROUP OF SENSORS AND SENSOR SUITES, WHICH WE THINK THE X-37B MAY BE USING TO MAINTAIN A CLOSE WATCH ON CHINA'S NASCENT SPACE STATION," said Spaceflight editor Dr David Baker. The BBC AND POPULAR SCIENCE while MSNBC suggests that US experts dispute the claim of American spying on the Chinese space lab.

There are a number of ALTERNATIVE VIEWS on AMERICAN-CHINESE SPACE COOPERATION.

Origin: unexplored-earth.blogspot.com