The Pentagon has repeatedly said that the space plane is simply a “test bed” for other technologies.

五角大楼曾多次表示，空天飞机仅是一个技术“试验床”。

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And so begins the first powered flight of the experimental plane designed to take man to the edge of space.

VOA: special.2010.07.07

There were new designs for the plane's rocket engine, landing equipment and the small rockets needed to move it in space.

VOA: special.2010.07.07

The Smithsonian's National Air and Space Museum in Washington,D.C.owns the plane.

VOA: special.2009.03.18

The programs in question are the Clementine II asteroid intercept experiment, the Army's Kinetic Kill Anti-Satellite Weapon and the Military Space Plane.

CENTERFORSECURITYPOLICY: Clinton Policies Would Disarm U.S. Space Capabilit

The agency has already spent billions of dollars on the National Aerospace Plane, the X-33, X-34, X-37, X-38 and the Orbital Space Plane.

FORBES: Magazine Article

While the Military Space Plane was terminated on other grounds, its inherent capabilities would almost certainly fall afoul of such policies as well.

CENTERFORSECURITYPOLICY: United States Senate