14 DAY TRIAL // China recently manifested its suspicions on the American X-37B space plane, again. The country is viewing the US Air Force's (USAF) space platform as a potential threat to its security, arguing that it could very well be used for military purposes.
The project was initially developed by NASA, handed over to the US Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA), and then finally made its way to the USAF. The latter already built two prototypes, both of which flew to space, one more successful than the other.
The second X-37B returned home after spending 15 months in low-Earth orbit on June 16, 2012, sparking discussions as to what the USAF is actually doing with this spacecraft. As always, Air Force officials refused to comment on the nature of the payload or the mission the space plane had just finished.
Under these circumstances, it's no wonder that China is worried about the potential capabilities of the X-37B. Though two of these vehicles could fit in the cargo bay of a shuttle, they can still carry military equipment capable of doing a lot of damage, Space reports.