SpaceX launches secretive Zuma mission

technology.inquirer.net:

SpaceX on Sunday blasted off a secretive US government payload known as Zuma, a mission whose nature — and the agency behind it — remains a mystery.
“Three, two, one, ignition and liftoff,” said a SpaceX commentator as the Falcon 9 rocket launched under cover of darkness from Cape Canaveral, Florida, at 8:00 pm (0100 GMT Monday).
The launch was initially supposed to take place in November but was postponed so the California-based company could take a closer look at potential problems with the fairing, or the nose cone part of the rocket that protects the payload.
Just what exactly needed such special protection and secrecy is still unknown.
Northrup Grumman, the maker of the payload, said it was for the US government and would be delivered to low-Earth orbit, but offered no other details.
SpaceX and the Pentagon did not respond to requests for comment about the nature of the mission.
SpaceX has launched national security payloads in the past, including a spy satellite for the National Reconnaissance Office, and an X-37B space plane for the US Air Force.
The company’s live webcast did not show video coverage of the Zuma spacecraft after it separated from the first stage of the rocket, but confirmed that the fairings deployed and the payload was well on its way to low-Earth orbit.
After launch, SpaceX returned the tall portion of the Falcon 9 rocket to an upright landing at Cape Canaveral.
Cheers erupted at SpaceX headquarters in Hawthorne, California as the rocket glided seamlessly down to ground.
SpaceX chief executive Elon Musk’s goal is to perfect the technique so that rockets can one day become just as reusable as airplanes, thereby lowering the cost of space travel.

thesouthafrican.com

Elon Musk launches “Zuma” into orbit for SpaceX project

Elon Musk and his SpaceX company have launched their first successful mission of 2018, by sending Zuma into a low-earth orbit from Cape Canaveral in Florida.

We hate to break it to you, but this is not what you think it is. As much as that would be a fun start for everyone’s Monday, ‘Zuma’ is merely the codename given to the mission (as reported by Fin24) – an obvious nod Musk’s South African heritage.

Why is this SpaceX mission called Zuma?
Well, let’s review the facts. The tech corporation took on the mission for American national defence contractor Northrop Grumman. All that is known about the launch is that the payload being taken into orbit is a super-secretive, classified operation.

And nobody does secrets and withheld government information better than Jacob Zuma, right? Well, despite a lack of official clarification, we’ll have to settle for this theory.

Lon Rains is a spokesperson for Northrop Grumman. Though he declined to tell Bloomberg what the ‘payload’ was, Rains explained why they chose SpaceX for the operation.

“As a company, Northrop Grumman realises this is a monumental responsibility. we have taken great care to ensure the most affordable and lowest risk scenario for Zuma.”

Is sustainable space travel possible?
This was a particularly successful launch for Musk and his team due to their drive for sustainability in space travel. The price of sending crafts into orbit is, ironically, astronomical. SpaceX have been challenged to find ways of driving down these costs.

Elon Musk has two words for us: Reusable rockets. Incredibly, the launch team were able to safely land the main body of the rocket back on Earth, damage free. The Falcon 9 will be used again for future projects, which is probably for the best, given SpaceX’s busy schedule for 2018…

After launching 18 successful projects last year, Musk’s tech giant is now looking to complete 30 missions over the next 12 months. Space exploration could be on the verge of a financial revolution. That’s if our Pretorian has his way…