Reply to post: "Given the relatively small size of its payload bay, it is unlikely that it carries any weapons.."

"Given the relatively small size of its payload bay, it is unlikely that it carries any weapons.."

Technically the payload bay is quite big enough for a few warheads off an ICBM, or even a few nuclear shells wrapped in ablative coating with some kind of guidance package on them.

The political s**tstorm for deploying such a system would be huge. Real task for the X37b include.

Qualifying new surveillance technologies for long term exposure to space.

Qualifying individual parts as "space rated" (apparently very few companies make "space rated" LED's, which can be a problem if you are only allowed to use parts off a qualified parts list).

Deploying independent swarms of satellites to give a much larger signal collection aperture (like a grid of cubesats making a really big antenna)

Using its engine to do multiple plane changes to provide a sort of "surveillance on demand" service for multiple theaters of operations. EG Photographing Fat Boy Kim at his private North Korean villa.