[somat]

The space shuttle could be used to steal satellites. I don't think it was ever used in this role or in the related role bringing any satellite back down but it was in the mission profile.

I wonder if there were any missions where a foreign spy satellite was captured inspected in orbit then sent on it's way?

My best guess for the continuing air force interest in a shuttle like platform (the x-37) is for exactly this reason. not bombs but satellite capture.

[MichaelCollins]

Spy satellites are usually in very high inclination orbits, particularly polar orbits, so they can sweep out different parts of the earth as the earth rotates under them. From what I understand the Shuttle's very large wings were meant to give it a sufficient glide ratio / cross-range capability to reach a landing strip when returning from a polar orbit, where most spy satellites would be. But the Shuttle was never sent into a polar orbit, so it's safe to assume that sort of mission was never performed.

[somat]

Why would you need more range returning from a polar orbit? The point of a polar orbit is to make more land features available under the orbit. Shouldn't this give a more flexable deorbit profile?

edit, I actually read the posted message. The requirement was for a once around then land. so consider my question unasked. Salutes

[MichaelCollins]

Yep, once around then landing. I think they didn't want to hang around in orbit after doing something that sketchy. I think this sort of capability / mission profile spooked the Soviets; it seemed like a capability that would be useful to an orbital bomber.

[justsomehnguy]

> Shuttle's very large wings

Surprisingly, the first result from the search returns [0]

[0] https://space.stackexchange.com/questions/28243/could-space-...