Author Topic: SpaceX F9 : Zuma : January 7/8, 2018, CCAFS : DISCUSSION  (Read 786547 times)

Offline Skyrocket

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Re: SpaceX F9 : Zuma : January 7/8, 2018, CCAFS : DISCUSSION
« Reply #300 on: 11/16/2017 05:06 pm »
A day time shot:

Quote
gooooood morning from historic Launch Complex 39A. Just finished setting my remote cameras for tonight's 8PM launch of the mystery #Zuma payload. #SpaceX

https://twitter.com/TrevorMahlmann/status/931201861071368194

Interesting - they leave two red working machines (cranes, forklifts or what ever) inside the partially demolished rotating structure during launch.

Offline Jim

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Re: SpaceX F9 : Zuma : January 7/8, 2018, CCAFS : DISCUSSION
« Reply #301 on: 11/16/2017 05:15 pm »

Jim just said it’s not a military launch, I can’t think who else government wise other than NASA would be launching satellites.
NSA. CIA.  NRO.

They are military entities.

Eh, USINT is not generally considered to be a part of USMIL.   USMIL has its own intelligence community.   They, of course, all work together, in theory.  Given the CIA's history of using shell companies for everything, I would consider them just general government rather than military.

I think most of us in the U.S. draw a distinction between the Armed Forces (Military) under DoD and the other agencies under DoD.

And CIA is not DOD or military

Offline NX-0

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Re: SpaceX F9 : Zuma : January 7/8, 2018, CCAFS : DISCUSSION
« Reply #302 on: 11/16/2017 05:28 pm »
A day time shot:

Quote
gooooood morning from historic Launch Complex 39A. Just finished setting my remote cameras for tonight's 8PM launch of the mystery #Zuma payload. #SpaceX

https://twitter.com/TrevorMahlmann/status/931201861071368194

Interesting - they leave two red working machines (cranes, forklifts or what ever) inside the partially demolished rotating structure during launch.

These were there for the previous launch, as well.

EDIT: Spellin'
« Last Edit: 11/16/2017 05:59 pm by NX-0 »

Offline AncientU

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Re: SpaceX F9 : Zuma : January 7/8, 2018, CCAFS : DISCUSSION
« Reply #303 on: 11/16/2017 06:02 pm »
ARTICLE: SpaceX Falcon 9 readies for launch of clandestine Zuma satellite - https://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2017/11/spacex-falcon-9-launch-clandestine-zuma-satellite/

By Chris Gebhardt - who also took the photos (multi-talented!)

Nice article Chris G. -- one of many!



Notable:
Quote
Due to the U.S. government’s need to launch Zuma before 30 November, SpaceX’s manifest was rearranged to meet the customer’s short-notice launch need – representing a rapid launch response capability for SpaceX that has been greatly aided by the company’s immensely successful reuse of the Falcon 9 first stage booster.

This reuse ability has allowed SpaceX to optimize its launch manifest and has allowed its customers greater flexibility and launch date assurance than would otherwise have been available if the company only relied on brand new Falcon 9s for every flight.
bolds mine

Sound like features for which the USG might be willing to pay a significant amount -- $1B/yr maybe?
« Last Edit: 11/16/2017 06:02 pm by AncientU »
"If we shared everything [we are working on] people would think we are insane!"
-- SpaceX friend of mlindner

Offline Jim

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Re: SpaceX F9 : Zuma : January 7/8, 2018, CCAFS : DISCUSSION
« Reply #304 on: 11/16/2017 06:07 pm »

Sound like features for which the USG might be willing to pay a significant amount -- $1B/yr maybe?

nope, can't launch most USG spacecraft
« Last Edit: 11/16/2017 06:07 pm by Jim »

Offline Brian45

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Re: SpaceX F9 : Zuma : January 7/8, 2018, CCAFS : DISCUSSION
« Reply #305 on: 11/16/2017 06:13 pm »
Reported that the flight is delayed until Friday.
https://twitter.com/flatoday_jdean/status/931234190070374400

Offline AncientU

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Re: SpaceX F9 : Zuma : January 7/8, 2018, CCAFS : DISCUSSION
« Reply #306 on: 11/16/2017 06:18 pm »

Sound like features for which the USG might be willing to pay a significant amount -- $1B/yr maybe?

nope, can't launch most USG spacecraft

...yet
"If we shared everything [we are working on] people would think we are insane!"
-- SpaceX friend of mlindner

Offline Jim

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Re: SpaceX F9 : Zuma : January 7/8, 2018, CCAFS : DISCUSSION
« Reply #307 on: 11/16/2017 06:52 pm »

Sound like features for which the USG might be willing to pay a significant amount -- $1B/yr maybe?

nope, can't launch most USG spacecraft

...yet

Nope, never. This capability only applies to single stick vehicles.  SpaceX can't add a FH into the schedule like a F9.

« Last Edit: 11/16/2017 07:27 pm by Chris Bergin »

Online Coastal Ron

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Re: SpaceX F9 : Zuma : January 7/8, 2018, CCAFS : DISCUSSION
« Reply #308 on: 11/16/2017 07:25 pm »
I was thinking this morning that there was a possibility for a postponement today - because Musk is unveiling his electric truck at Tesla tonight, and why risk bad PR in case something happens on the Zuma launch...  ;)

Probably not connected, but couldn't resist throwing it out there.
If we don't continuously lower the cost to access space, how are we ever going to afford to expand humanity out into space?

Offline Lar

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Re: SpaceX F9 : Zuma : January 7/8, 2018, CCAFS : DISCUSSION
« Reply #309 on: 11/16/2017 07:36 pm »
I was thinking this morning that there was a possibility for a postponement today - because Musk is unveiling his electric truck at Tesla tonight, and why risk bad PR in case something happens on the Zuma launch...  ;)

Probably not connected, but couldn't resist throwing it out there.
Dubious. Elon doesn't think that way, IMHO. I think SpaceX is taking this launch VERY seriously. It showcases their capabilities to rapidly respond to need.  Delaying for PR reasons defeats that message badly.
"I think it would be great to be born on Earth and to die on Mars. Just hopefully not at the point of impact." -Elon Musk
"We're a little bit like the dog who caught the bus" - Musk after CRS-8 S1 successfully landed on ASDS OCISLY

Online saliva_sweet

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Re: SpaceX F9 : Zuma : January 7/8, 2018, CCAFS : DISCUSSION
« Reply #310 on: 11/16/2017 07:37 pm »
SpaceX can't add a FH into the schedule like a F9.

... yet.

Offline Star One

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Re: SpaceX F9 : Zuma : January 7/8, 2018, CCAFS : DISCUSSION
« Reply #311 on: 11/16/2017 07:44 pm »
I was thinking this morning that there was a possibility for a postponement today - because Musk is unveiling his electric truck at Tesla tonight, and why risk bad PR in case something happens on the Zuma launch...  ;)

Probably not connected, but couldn't resist throwing it out there.
Dubious. Elon doesn't think that way, IMHO. I think SpaceX is taking this launch VERY seriously. It showcases their capabilities to rapidly respond to need.  Delaying for PR reasons defeats that message badly.

You don’t think he takes Tesla equally seriously?

Offline Lar

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Re: SpaceX F9 : Zuma : January 7/8, 2018, CCAFS : DISCUSSION
« Reply #312 on: 11/16/2017 07:48 pm »
I was thinking this morning that there was a possibility for a postponement today - because Musk is unveiling his electric truck at Tesla tonight, and why risk bad PR in case something happens on the Zuma launch...  ;)

Probably not connected, but couldn't resist throwing it out there.
Dubious. Elon doesn't think that way, IMHO. I think SpaceX is taking this launch VERY seriously. It showcases their capabilities to rapidly respond to need.  Delaying for PR reasons defeats that message badly.

You don’t think he takes Tesla equally seriously?

I don't think I made my point clearly enough, sorry....

While he certainly takes Tesla seriously (and it has the largest short interest of any stock ever) that's not how things are done. Not how his mind works. Elon doesn't think about PR first. (read the Rolling Stone article, it's pretty good) The long term consequences of delaying (what is probably) a national security launch for PR reasons are likely to be damaging to BOTH companies anyway.
"I think it would be great to be born on Earth and to die on Mars. Just hopefully not at the point of impact." -Elon Musk
"We're a little bit like the dog who caught the bus" - Musk after CRS-8 S1 successfully landed on ASDS OCISLY

Offline EspenU

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Re: SpaceX F9 : Zuma : January 7/8, 2018, CCAFS : DISCUSSION
« Reply #313 on: 11/16/2017 08:01 pm »
Someone should tell the webcast people about the delay ;-). The webcast is still counting down to launch in 3 hours.

Offline Stefan.Christoff.19

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Re: SpaceX F9 : Zuma : January 7/8, 2018, CCAFS : DISCUSSION
« Reply #314 on: 11/16/2017 08:04 pm »
Looking at the mission patch. There are 6 bright stars on the left of the rocket and on the right the flag is folded in a way that reveals 6 of the state stars. Does that give us any clues? Is there a 5-6 satellite constellation that this could be part of?

Offline joncz

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Re: SpaceX F9 : Zuma : January 7/8, 2018, CCAFS : DISCUSSION
« Reply #315 on: 11/16/2017 08:09 pm »
There are also nine dimmer starts on the left of the patch.

Offline psionedge

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Re: SpaceX F9 : Zuma : January 7/8, 2018, CCAFS : DISCUSSION
« Reply #316 on: 11/16/2017 08:13 pm »
I was thinking this morning that there was a possibility for a postponement today - because Musk is unveiling his electric truck at Tesla tonight, and why risk bad PR in case something happens on the Zuma launch...  ;)

Probably not connected, but couldn't resist throwing it out there.
I would think of this like a slap in the face if I worked at SpaceX.

Offline mme

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Re: SpaceX F9 : Zuma : January 7/8, 2018, CCAFS : DISCUSSION
« Reply #317 on: 11/16/2017 09:00 pm »
I was thinking this morning that there was a possibility for a postponement today - because Musk is unveiling his electric truck at Tesla tonight, and why risk bad PR in case something happens on the Zuma launch...  ;)

Probably not connected, but couldn't resist throwing it out there.
IMHO the last thing the world needs at the moment in history is more conspiracy thinking.
Space is not Highlander.  There can, and will, be more than one.

Offline mrhuggy

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Re: SpaceX F9 : Zuma : January 7/8, 2018, CCAFS : DISCUSSION
« Reply #318 on: 11/16/2017 09:11 pm »

Jim just said it’s not a military launch, I can’t think who else government wise other than NASA would be launching satellites.
NSA. CIA.  NRO.

Missile Defence Agency?

Offline Jcc

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Re: SpaceX F9 : Zuma : January 7/8, 2018, CCAFS : DISCUSSION
« Reply #319 on: 11/16/2017 10:14 pm »
I was thinking this morning that there was a possibility for a postponement today - because Musk is unveiling his electric truck at Tesla tonight, and why risk bad PR in case something happens on the Zuma launch...  ;)

Probably not connected, but couldn't resist throwing it out there.
IMHO the last thing the world needs at the moment in history is more conspiracy thinking.

The delay yesterday was due to the need for more "Mission Assurance" work, which as I understand it is paperwork, documentation, proof of process being followed, etc. This may be more of the same.

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