Quote from: psionedge on 10/18/2017 09:09 pmQuote from: gongora on 10/18/2017 09:04 pmQuote from: cppetrie on 10/18/2017 08:59 pmWe don’t even know that it’s a DOD mission. We’ve only been told government client. While DOD may even be likely, it could be another arm of the government. Ideas for what other gov’t client it could be besides DOD?Edit: removed question about being US gov’t after reviewing posts above. It’s definitely US gov’t.It's either military or intelligence agency, otherwise it wouldn't be a secret.Hey, there's only 17 or so US intelligence agencies, so should be easy to narrow down....and four branches of the military...
Quote from: gongora on 10/18/2017 09:04 pmQuote from: cppetrie on 10/18/2017 08:59 pmWe don’t even know that it’s a DOD mission. We’ve only been told government client. While DOD may even be likely, it could be another arm of the government. Ideas for what other gov’t client it could be besides DOD?Edit: removed question about being US gov’t after reviewing posts above. It’s definitely US gov’t.It's either military or intelligence agency, otherwise it wouldn't be a secret.Hey, there's only 17 or so US intelligence agencies, so should be easy to narrow down.
Quote from: cppetrie on 10/18/2017 08:59 pmWe don’t even know that it’s a DOD mission. We’ve only been told government client. While DOD may even be likely, it could be another arm of the government. Ideas for what other gov’t client it could be besides DOD?Edit: removed question about being US gov’t after reviewing posts above. It’s definitely US gov’t.It's either military or intelligence agency, otherwise it wouldn't be a secret.
We don’t even know that it’s a DOD mission. We’ve only been told government client. While DOD may even be likely, it could be another arm of the government. Ideas for what other gov’t client it could be besides DOD?Edit: removed question about being US gov’t after reviewing posts above. It’s definitely US gov’t.
The recent NROL-76(?) on SpaceX was a SpaceX launch procured by the vehicle provider, Ball. I would assume this is a similar scenario. As the govt tries to bring costs down the procurement approach for satellites now makes the contractor also procure the launch service, forcing them to decide between ULA or SpaceX. The government also likes this because if it blows up, then the prime has to bear the responsibility for it, not the govt.
I'd bet money this was not a last minute contract. It was likely included in whatever contract the govt agency signed with NG for the satellite. Satellites don't get built last minute.
Quote from: ZachF on 10/18/2017 07:49 pmso DOD maybe chose SpaceX for a last-minute 'we need it now' mission launch?...We don’t know that this is a “last-minute ‘we need it now’” mission launch, it could’ve been contracted to SpaceX years ago.
so DOD maybe chose SpaceX for a last-minute 'we need it now' mission launch?...
Isn't NRO (which is a part of DoD) procuring and operating satellites for all US intelligence agencies? Or, is possible that one of the agencies orders and operates satellites independently?
Quote from: tleski on 10/18/2017 09:48 pmIsn't NRO (which is a part of DoD) procuring and operating satellites for all US intelligence agencies? Or, is possible that one of the agencies orders and operates satellites independently?PAN was not a NRO payload.
Quote from: Star One on 10/19/2017 08:23 amQuote from: tleski on 10/18/2017 09:48 pmIsn't NRO (which is a part of DoD) procuring and operating satellites for all US intelligence agencies? Or, is possible that one of the agencies orders and operates satellites independently?PAN was not a NRO payload.PAN (aka NEMESIS-1) appears to be a NRO payload (as confirmed by leaked information like the NRO budget and the Menwith Hill information published by The Intercept, but was not procured and launched the usual way.
When the United States needs eyes and ears in critical places where no human can reach – be it over the most rugged terrain or through the most hostile territory – it turns to the National Reconnaissance Office (NRO). The NRO is the U.S. Government agency in charge of designing, building, launching, and maintaining America’s intelligence satellites. Whether creating the latest innovations in satellite technology, contracting with the most cost-efficient industrial supplier, conducting rigorous launch schedules, or providing the highest-quality products to our customers, we never lose focus on who we are working to protect: our Nation and its citizens.
FWIW, Eric Berger mentioned last night that [[[Zuma]]] is an NRO mission.
Quote from: vaporcobra on 10/19/2017 04:39 pmFWIW, Eric Berger mentioned last night that [[[Zuma]]] is an NRO mission.Then why doesn't it carry an NROL designation?
Quote from: psionedge on 10/19/2017 09:01 pmQuote from: vaporcobra on 10/19/2017 04:39 pmFWIW, Eric Berger mentioned last night that [[[Zuma]]] is an NRO mission.Then why doesn't it carry an NROL designation?Because the launch is not contracted via NRO, but via the manufacturer (similar as with the NEMESIS satellites PAN and CLIO)
Quote from: Skyrocket on 10/19/2017 11:20 pmQuote from: psionedge on 10/19/2017 09:01 pmQuote from: vaporcobra on 10/19/2017 04:39 pmFWIW, Eric Berger mentioned last night that [[[Zuma]]] is an NRO mission.Then why doesn't it carry an NROL designation?Because the launch is not contracted via NRO, but via the manufacturer (similar as with the NEMESIS satellites PAN and CLIO)NROL-76 was procured via the contractor, Ball.