• About
  • Contact
Friday, July 11, 2025
No Result
View All Result
Londoner News
  • Home
  • London
  • Britain
  • Europe
  • America
  • International
  • Submit Article
  • Other
    • Health
    • Tech
    • Travel
    • Science
  • Home
  • London
  • Britain
  • Europe
  • America
  • International
  • Submit Article
  • Other
    • Health
    • Tech
    • Travel
    • Science
No Result
View All Result
Londoner News
No Result
View All Result
Home Tech

SpaceX prepares secret ‘Zuma’ satellite launch

by The Editor
January 2, 2018
in Tech
0
SpaceX prepares secret ‘Zuma’ satellite launch
0
SHARES
2
VIEWS
Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

SpaceX is preparing to send into space a satellite for the US government that is so secret the public cannot know even which branch of the administration commissioned the launch.

A weather report ahead of the launch released on Tuesday described the conditions as excellent.

Unlike the private aerospace company's previous classified launches for the military's National Reconnaissance Officeand the super-secret space-plane it took into orbit for the Air Force, there is almost no information available about the "Zuma" payload.

Zuma is known to be a low Earth orbit satellite (orbiting within 2,000km) which is an orbit necessary both for spy and military communication satellites.

The secrecy surrounding the launch and the involvement of defence contractor Northrup Grumman in building and operating the spacecraft has led many to speculate that it is defence related.

The National Reconnaissance Office has denied that Zuma belongs to them.

The launch window opens at 8pm local time on Thursday at Cape Canaveral in Florida.

Video:SpaceX rocket lands itself minutes after launch

After delivering the satellite into orbit, the Falcon 9 rocket is planned to return to a different launchpad at Cape Canaveral in Florida.

Where the company's competitors are forced to build new rockets for every launch, SpaceX has managed to achieve an economy of business by reusing previously developed craft.

This has helped the company to be valued at $21bn (£16bn), making it one of the most valuable privately-owned companies in the world – and drives down the launch cost for companies such as Northrup Grumman.

According to Northrup Grumman's communications director, Lon Raid: "This event represents a cost effective approach to space access for government missions.

More from SpaceX

"As a company, Northrop Grumman realises that this is a monumental responsibility and has taken great care to ensure the most affordable and lowest risk scenarios for Zuma."

The launch had been pushed back despite a US Government desire to launch Zuma before November of last year.

Original Article

[contf] [contfnew]

Sky News

[contfnewc] [contfnewc]

The Editor

Next Post
Can an iPhone movie be just as good? We produced a short film to find out

Can an iPhone movie be just as good? We produced a short film to find out

Recommended

Samsung to plug $160bn into new technology in major growth push

Samsung to plug $160bn into new technology in major growth push

7 years ago
Corries Lucy Jo Hudson finds love again two months after split from husband Alan Halsall

Corries Lucy Jo Hudson finds love again two months after split from husband Alan Halsall

7 years ago

Popular News

    Connect with us

    About Us

    We bring you the best Premium WordPress Themes that perfect for news, magazine, personal blog, etc. Check our landing page for details.

    Category

    • America
    • Britain
    • Entertainment
    • Europe
    • Health
    • International
    • latest news
    • London
    • Markets
    • Science
    • Tech
    • Travel
    • Uncategorized
    • Women

    Site Links

    • Log in
    • Entries feed
    • Comments feed
    • WordPress.org
    • About
    • Contact

    © 2020 londonernews

    No Result
    View All Result
    • Home
    • Science
    • Travel
    • Tech
    • Health

    © 2020 londonernews