Author Topic: SpaceX F9 : Zuma : January 7/8, 2018, CCAFS : DISCUSSION  (Read 786511 times)

Offline CyndyC

Maybe it's a launch for an unacknowledged foreign government, through and with the cooperation of the US Government? It would explain why none of the agencies are taking ownership of it (assuming they're not lying, of course).

Possibly a US spy sat that protects another country directly and the US only indirectly, but otherwise why not just report the mission as a secret Israeli, South Korean, or Ukranian govt mission, or whatever, just as in the past it has not been covered up when the mission was a secret US govt mission.
"Either lead, follow, or get out of the way." -- quote of debatable origin tweeted by Ted Turner and previously seen on his desk

Offline yokem55

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Re: SpaceX F9 : Zuma : January 7/8, 2018, CCAFS : DISCUSSION
« Reply #661 on: 01/08/2018 04:31 pm »
The rollout of FH for the static fire test is enough confirmation for me that the Zuma mission was a success. Business as usual. The steamroller continues.
The only pause I have on this is if there was a failure in a capability that Zuma needed from the upper stage that usually isn't needed. If there was a restart failure after a very long coast (much longer than normal missions require), we might not ever hear about it as that might give away part of the mission. Other missions not needing such long coast phases could proceed as normal, and the investigation/remediation could happen completely out of the public eye.

Offline e of pi

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Re: SpaceX F9 : Zuma : January 7/8, 2018, CCAFS : DISCUSSION
« Reply #662 on: 01/08/2018 04:41 pm »
Now catalogued as USA 280, 2018-001A, 43098.  Naturally no orbital data given.
Do you have a source on that? It'd be good to get an outside confirmation of success since it seems that might be all we get.

Offline wannamoonbase

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Re: SpaceX F9 : Zuma : January 7/8, 2018, CCAFS : DISCUSSION
« Reply #663 on: 01/08/2018 04:45 pm »
Quote
My favorite remote camera image I took from last nights Zuma launch. My camera was setup at the launch pad and fitted with a Miops Smart Trigger. #spacex #Falcon9 #rocketlaunch #spacexlaunch @elonmusk @SpaceX @Teslarati @MiopsTrigger

https://twitter.com/_tomcross_/status/950281149871542272

Now imagine this x3 ...

Great photo, that's awesome work!  Bring on the FH.

Edit: Great detail of the lower end, is that a bolted octoweb?
« Last Edit: 01/08/2018 04:47 pm by wannamoonbase »
Wildly optimistic prediction, Superheavy recovery on IFT-4 or IFT-5

Offline Star One

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Re: SpaceX F9 : Zuma : January 7/8, 2018, CCAFS : DISCUSSION
« Reply #664 on: 01/08/2018 05:21 pm »
The de-orbit burn of the upper stage was observed.

Quote
Hi all,

Just got a report with pictures from a Dutch aircraft pilot of what I think is
the de-orbit burn/depressurization of the Falcon 9 upper stage from the Zuma
launch last night.

The images definitely show something rocket-related. Time reportedly was near
2:18 UT (January 8), location flying above Khartoum in Sudan. Object moved in
(roughly) southerly direction. This was about 40-45 minutes before opening of
the upper stage re-entry window.

More details to follow later.

- Marco

http://www.satobs.org/seesat/Jan-2018/0063.html

Offline basedoesgames

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Re: SpaceX F9 : Zuma : January 7/8, 2018, CCAFS : DISCUSSION
« Reply #665 on: 01/08/2018 05:25 pm »
I feel like this is a good place to post my launch picture.
Twitter: @baserunner0723
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Offline Formica


Great photo, that's awesome work!  Bring on the FH.

Edit: Great detail of the lower end, is that a bolted octoweb?

Yeah, that might be the best image from the Zuma launch so far. Very impressive  :)

As for what we're seeing, my guess would be that the bolted on panels are the new-ish non ablative (Inconel?) heat shields.

Offline Johnnyhinbos

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Re: SpaceX F9 : Zuma : January 7/8, 2018, CCAFS : DISCUSSION
« Reply #667 on: 01/08/2018 05:55 pm »
The de-orbit burn of the upper stage was observed.

Quote
Hi all,

Just got a report with pictures from a Dutch aircraft pilot of what I think is
the de-orbit burn/depressurization of the Falcon 9 upper stage from the Zuma
launch last night.

The images definitely show something rocket-related. Time reportedly was near
2:18 UT (January 8), location flying above Khartoum in Sudan. Object moved in
(roughly) southerly direction. This was about 40-45 minutes before opening of
the upper stage re-entry window.

More details to follow later.

- Marco

http://www.satobs.org/seesat/Jan-2018/0063.html
Observed 40-45 minutes before the opening of the upper stage re-entry window. Is that a normal delay between a de-orbit burn and expected re-entry?
John Hanzl. Author, action / adventure www.johnhanzl.com

Offline Lars-J

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Re: SpaceX F9 : Zuma : January 7/8, 2018, CCAFS : DISCUSSION
« Reply #668 on: 01/08/2018 06:20 pm »

Great photo, that's awesome work!  Bring on the FH.

Edit: Great detail of the lower end, is that a bolted octoweb?

Yeah, that might be the best image from the Zuma launch so far. Very impressive  :)

As for what we're seeing, my guess would be that the bolted on panels are the new-ish non ablative (Inconel?) heat shields.

It doesn't look much different that previous flights. As far as the bolted vs welded(?) octaweb, that's all internal and the difference would be not visible from the exterior.

As far as new non ablative heat shield, is that being implemented? Because this looks no different in my eyes to the normal "spam"-ish material.
« Last Edit: 01/08/2018 07:52 pm by Lars-J »

Offline francesco nicoli

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Re: SpaceX F9 : Zuma : January 7/8, 2018, CCAFS : DISCUSSION
« Reply #669 on: 01/08/2018 06:34 pm »
Just stop with the space weapons stuff.  EVERY defense prime has some connection to a military laser program.  There's nothing special about Northrup Grumman making some acquisition years ago that would increase the odds of this being a banned weapon payload.

apologies, but why "banned"?

Conventional weaponry, including lasers, is not banned in space. Nuclear warheads are.

Offline Star One

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Re: SpaceX F9 : Zuma : January 7/8, 2018, CCAFS : DISCUSSION
« Reply #670 on: 01/08/2018 06:35 pm »
The de-orbit burn of the upper stage was observed.

Quote
Hi all,

Just got a report with pictures from a Dutch aircraft pilot of what I think is
the de-orbit burn/depressurization of the Falcon 9 upper stage from the Zuma
launch last night.

The images definitely show something rocket-related. Time reportedly was near
2:18 UT (January 8), location flying above Khartoum in Sudan. Object moved in
(roughly) southerly direction. This was about 40-45 minutes before opening of
the upper stage re-entry window.

More details to follow later.

- Marco

http://www.satobs.org/seesat/Jan-2018/0063.html
Observed 40-45 minutes before the opening of the upper stage re-entry window. Is that a normal delay between a de-orbit burn and expected re-entry?

TBH I was wondering that as well when I posted that & Marco has followed it up with this post saying he is making further enquiries regarding the sighting.

http://www.satobs.org/seesat/Jan-2018/0064.html
« Last Edit: 01/08/2018 06:37 pm by Star One »

Offline e of pi

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Re: SpaceX F9 : Zuma : January 7/8, 2018, CCAFS : DISCUSSION
« Reply #671 on: 01/08/2018 06:37 pm »
The de-orbit burn of the upper stage was observed.

Quote
Hi all,

Just got a report with pictures from a Dutch aircraft pilot of what I think is
the de-orbit burn/depressurization of the Falcon 9 upper stage from the Zuma
launch last night.

The images definitely show something rocket-related. Time reportedly was near
2:18 UT (January 8), location flying above Khartoum in Sudan. Object moved in
(roughly) southerly direction. This was about 40-45 minutes before opening of
the upper stage re-entry window.

More details to follow later.

- Marco

http://www.satobs.org/seesat/Jan-2018/0063.html
Observed 40-45 minutes before the opening of the upper stage re-entry window. Is that a normal delay between a de-orbit burn and expected re-entry?
About half an orbit is pretty typical AIUI, so 40 minutes from retro to entry wouldn't be too surprising to me.

Offline Lar

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Re: SpaceX F9 : Zuma : January 7/8, 2018, CCAFS : DISCUSSION
« Reply #672 on: 01/08/2018 06:43 pm »
Just stop with the space weapons stuff.  EVERY defense prime has some connection to a military laser program.  There's nothing special about Northrup Grumman making some acquisition years ago that would increase the odds of this being a banned weapon payload.

apologies, but why "banned"?

Conventional weaponry, including lasers, is not banned in space. Nuclear warheads are.
That's a quibble, and off-topic.
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Offline old_sellsword

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Re: SpaceX F9 : Zuma : January 7/8, 2018, CCAFS : DISCUSSION
« Reply #673 on: 01/08/2018 06:59 pm »
Quote
My favorite remote camera image I took from last nights Zuma launch. My camera was setup at the launch pad and fitted with a Miops Smart Trigger. #spacex #Falcon9 #rocketlaunch #spacexlaunch @elonmusk @SpaceX @Teslarati @MiopsTrigger

https://twitter.com/_tomcross_/status/950281149871542272

Now imagine this x3 ...

Great photo, that's awesome work!  Bring on the FH.

Edit: Great detail of the lower end, is that a bolted octoweb?

It looks no different than any previous v1.2 octawebs.

Offline russianhalo117

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Re: SpaceX F9 : Zuma : January 7/8, 2018, CCAFS : DISCUSSION
« Reply #674 on: 01/08/2018 07:05 pm »
Quote
My favorite remote camera image I took from last nights Zuma launch. My camera was setup at the launch pad and fitted with a Miops Smart Trigger. #spacex #Falcon9 #rocketlaunch #spacexlaunch @elonmusk @SpaceX @Teslarati @MiopsTrigger

https://twitter.com/_tomcross_/status/950281149871542272

Now imagine this x3 ...

Great photo, that's awesome work!  Bring on the FH.

Edit: Great detail of the lower end, is that a bolted octoweb?

It looks no different than any previous v1.2 octawebs.
Only difference up close is no welds attaching the octaweb to the stage and slight differences to the panels on the Octawebs themselves.

Offline Lars-J

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Re: SpaceX F9 : Zuma : January 7/8, 2018, CCAFS : DISCUSSION
« Reply #675 on: 01/08/2018 07:11 pm »
Quote
My favorite remote camera image I took from last nights Zuma launch. My camera was setup at the launch pad and fitted with a Miops Smart Trigger. #spacex #Falcon9 #rocketlaunch #spacexlaunch @elonmusk @SpaceX @Teslarati @MiopsTrigger

https://twitter.com/_tomcross_/status/950281149871542272

Now imagine this x3 ...

Great photo, that's awesome work!  Bring on the FH.

Edit: Great detail of the lower end, is that a bolted octoweb?

It looks no different than any previous v1.2 octawebs.
Only difference up close is no welds attaching the octaweb to the stage and slight differences to the panels on the Octawebs themselves.

Those welds were internal, not external. Unless you can point out the difference in images?

Offline kevin-rf

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Re: SpaceX F9 : Zuma : January 7/8, 2018, CCAFS : DISCUSSION
« Reply #676 on: 01/08/2018 07:52 pm »

TBH I was wondering that as well when I posted that & Marco has followed it up with this post saying he is making further enquiries regarding the sighting.

http://www.satobs.org/seesat/Jan-2018/0064.html

Sounds like he is working on a blog post to appear later in the week with the re-entry burn photos.

http://www.satobs.org/seesat/Jan-2018/0066.html
Quote
I will post the images on my blog later this week.

- Marco
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Offline drnscr

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Re: SpaceX F9 : Zuma : January 7/8, 2018, CCAFS : DISCUSSION
« Reply #677 on: 01/08/2018 08:06 pm »
I apologize but, for some reason, I cannot get the likelihood there was an issue with fairing and payload deployment out of my mind.  It strikes me as odd we haven’t seen a Musk tweet or something... just my two cents.
« Last Edit: 01/08/2018 08:07 pm by drnscr »

Offline sunbingfa

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Re: SpaceX F9 : Zuma : January 7/8, 2018, CCAFS : DISCUSSION
« Reply #678 on: 01/08/2018 08:13 pm »
 :'(
Peter Selding:
 
https://twitter.com/pbdes/status/950473623483101186

Zuma satellite from @northropgrumman may be dead in orbit after separation from @SpaceX Falcon 9, sources say. Info blackout renders any conclusion - launcher issue? Satellite-only issue? -- impossible to draw.


Eric Berger:

https://twitter.com/SciGuySpace/status/950474284807450625
I have been chasing this story as well. No comment from SpaceX as of yet.


This mission has a lot of weirdness from the start.....
..........

Offline vanoord

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Re: SpaceX F9 : Zuma : January 7/8, 2018, CCAFS : DISCUSSION
« Reply #679 on: 01/08/2018 08:13 pm »
Peter B. de Sending on Twitter
@pbdes
Quote
Zuma satellite from @northropgrumman may be dead in orbit after separation from @SpaceX Falcon 9, sources say. Info blackout renders any conclusion - launcher issue? Satellite-only issue? -- impossible to draw.

If you wanted your secret satellite to remain secret, it mightn't be a bad thing to suggest it never woke up on orbit.

Or am I being cynical?

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