Space Plane returns after 2yrs in space

[Neil]

...what on earth (or off earth) was it up to? - http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-29669205

[MoonSylver]

...what on earth (or off earth) was it up to? - http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-29669205

Very interesting! Had no idea such a craft existed. The theories in the article that they were either spying on China's space lab, or pretesting new technologies for satellite launches to make sure they work ahead of time, sounds plausible enough, but who knows? :shifty:

[Legion2213]

It's probably more likely that it is a simple long term endurance test.

I'd love to believe that when they got it in a hanger that some grim looking CIA-space core dude staggered out with the spark-plugs and starter motors from Russian & Chinese satellites or something...or an alien ambassador from the Tau Ceti system who'd been dropped off there by his diplomatic "blockade runner", but it's unlikely :D

And by getting distracted by being silly, I forgot to mention that this is a cool little craft and project...wonder if it's more about testing some kind of awesome long term A.I system for fully autonomous space exploration? (I'm running with the Star Wars theme here and thinking "probe droids")