Pentagon announces new mission for secretive space drone

五角大楼宣布秘密太空无人机X-37B的新任务

Date:2020-05-08 Source:defencetalk By:Globalmil Viewed:
by Agence France-Presse  May 7, 2020 in Air Force News
法新社（Agence France-Presse）2020年5月7日 空军新闻中发表
 

The US Air Force said Wednesday it would be sending its high-tech X-37B space drone back into orbit this month — the sixth trip for the reusable vehicle that maneuvers around the Earth on secretive missions.
美国空军周三表示，它将在本月将其高科技X-37B太空无人机送回轨道，这是可重复使用的运载工具在秘密任务中绕地球飞行的第六次旅行。

The X-37B Orbital Test Vehicle, which looks like a small version of the manned space shuttles retired in 2011, will be launched from Cape Canaveral in Florida on May 16, the Air Force said.
空军说，X-37B轨道试验飞行器看起来像是2011年退役的载人航天飞机的小型版本，将于5月16日从佛罗里达州的卡纳维拉尔角发射升空。

Once in orbit, it will deploy a small FalconSat-8 research satellite and, for the first time, also carry a service module that will expand its capacity for experiments.
一旦进入轨道，它将部署小型立方体星（FalconSat）-8研究卫星，并且还将首次搭载一个服务舱，以扩大其实验能力。

Experiments carried by the spacecraft include tests for NASA of the impact of radiation on seeds and other materials.
航天器进行的实验包括美国宇航局（NASA）的辐射对种子和其他材料的影响进行测试。

Another test for US Navy researchers involves transforming solar power into radio frequency microwave energy, which could then be transmitted to the ground, according to a statement.
一份声明称，美国海军研究人员的另一项测试涉及将太阳能转化为射频微波能，然后将其传输到地面。

The “space plane” as it is called, has spent a cumulative 2,865 days in space, including 780 days in orbit on its last mission, which ended in October 2019.
所谓的“太空飞机”已在太空中累计飞行2865天，其中在2019年10月结束的最后一次任务中，在轨飞行780天。

“This X-37B mission will host more experiments than any prior missions. This launch also demonstrates the department’s collaboration that pushes the boundaries for reusable space systems,” said Secretary of the Air Force Barbara Barrett.
美国空军部长芭芭拉.巴雷特（Barbara Barrett）说，“这次X-37B任务将比以往任何一次任务承载更多的实验。这次发射也展示了美国国防部的合作，为可重复使用的空间系统开辟了新的天地”。

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