[caldrail]

My immediate assumption (along with everyone else) is that the X-37B is a test vehicle for future militarisation of near-orbit, but it has occurred to me that SAR applications are going to be equally important if mankind is serious about colonising strange new worlds, life, and civilisations. So far no-one has established any formal SAR ability and with a manned mission to Mars on the drawing board, never mind what the Chinese are up to right now, sooner or later we're going to have to figure out how to rescue people up there.

Now I'll sit and wait for helicopters and black vans halting urgently outside my home. Hi Mr SWAT guy. Coffee? Tea? ... Or you'd prefer me to lie on the ground?.... Well, okay.... Since you have lots of big shiney guns...