As stated a Boeing presentation (acquired by L2), the concept of utilizing the X-37B as part of NASA's COTS and CCDev programs stemmed from the idea that the program would be able to "realize cost savings and acceleration of technology developmental timelines by focusing on the payload.
"Non- recurring costs [would be] substantially reduced by taking advantage of a mature spacecraft bus with well defined bus-to-payload interfaces and a ground station supported by seasoned mission operations staff using flight validated operational products."
Given that this presentation came after the first successful test flight of the X-37B, Boeing also noted that "Several key technologies for reusable spacecraft were successfully demonstrated in the areas of aerodynamics, aerothermodynamics, reusable solar arrays, Thermal Protection Systems (TPS), and autonomous Guidance, Navigation, and Control (GNC)."
Development of a mini-Shuttle – The X-37B comes to life:
Birthed from the NASA Future-X (1998-2001) and Space Launch Initiatives (2001-2006) campaigns, the X-37B was developed to help lower the cost of LEO transport for post-Shuttle and replacement EELV (Evolved Expendable Launch Vehicle) eras.
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