Saying it's a US Gov sat seems to contradict the statement by /u/ASTRALsunder saying that the operator has revenue targets to hit and shareholders to please:"Yup, critical for the operator in this case. They have revenue targets to hit and shareholders to keep happy." https://www.reddit.com/r/spacex/comments/76c3gw/spacex_has_an_approved_license_for_10_nov_launch/doda2gm/
Quote from: Craig_VG on 10/14/2017 10:05 pmSaying it's a US Gov sat seems to contradict the statement by /u/ASTRALsunder saying that the operator has revenue targets to hit and shareholders to please:"Yup, critical for the operator in this case. They have revenue targets to hit and shareholders to keep happy." https://www.reddit.com/r/spacex/comments/76c3gw/spacex_has_an_approved_license_for_10_nov_launch/doda2gm/Yes, but this story strains credulity. There appears to be a commercial customer that has pulled a satellite out of a hat. The launch is also so critical to their revenue that SpaceX employees need to worry about their bookkeeping. This is not something that should concern them at all. Perhaps the employees aren't told the whole story here? I'm suspecting something military. But aren't the nemesis sats in GEO? F9 would have to put Zuma to GTO and RTLS.
Perhaps it's another PAN or CLIO type launch similar to what was launched on Atlas V. The agency responsible for those sats wasn't even named. Assuming, of course, this is military.
I don't know what this satellite is, but I have seen it called Zuma (not capitals - but could easily be ZUMA as in Z.U.M.A - honestly do not know). So it is a mystery payload, but for the purpose of this thread we can call it codename Zuma.It is supposed to be riding on a new booster.
Quote from: Chris Bergin on 10/14/2017 07:05 pmI don't know what this satellite is, but I have seen it called Zuma (not capitals - but could easily be ZUMA as in Z.U.M.A - honestly do not know). So it is a mystery payload, but for the purpose of this thread we can call it codename Zuma.It is supposed to be riding on a new booster.From left of field: in reference to Elon Musk's South African roots, the very wealthy president of South Africa is Joseph Zuma. Just throwing it out there. I have no idea why someone would name a mission after him of course
Quote from: su27k on 10/14/2017 02:32 pmDoes SpaceX need to file papers with FCC if it's a government payload? I thought the filing is only for commercial launches. Kind of defeat the purpose of a secret payload if you have to get public license from FCC.The PAN and CLIO launches were also procured commercially.
Does SpaceX need to file papers with FCC if it's a government payload? I thought the filing is only for commercial launches. Kind of defeat the purpose of a secret payload if you have to get public license from FCC.
FYIZuma is an alternate name for a defunct Indian tribe that hunted and gathered in the mid-Rio Grande River valley and northern Chihuahua (Mexico) state.https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Suma_peopleEDIT: Could there be a reference to Boca Chica, near the mouth of the Rio Grande?
Quote from: saliva_sweet on 10/14/2017 06:35 pmQuote from: reddit user ASTRALsunderMy sources tell me the flight is named ZUMA. The flight is extremely critical because a successful one would mean lots of potential future revenue. Launch date is slated for November 15th due to slight slip in testing.Fact? Right?Lots of potential revenue for who? SpaceX? The satellite constellation operator (e.g. Boeing as was speculated up thread)?
Quote from: reddit user ASTRALsunderMy sources tell me the flight is named ZUMA. The flight is extremely critical because a successful one would mean lots of potential future revenue. Launch date is slated for November 15th due to slight slip in testing.Fact? Right?
My sources tell me the flight is named ZUMA. The flight is extremely critical because a successful one would mean lots of potential future revenue. Launch date is slated for November 15th due to slight slip in testing.
"Yup, critical for the operator in this case. They have revenue targets to hit and shareholders to keep happy." https://www.reddit.com/r/spacex/comments/76c3gw/spacex_has_an_approved_license_for_10_nov_launch/doda2gm/
Quote from: Craig_VG on 10/14/2017 10:05 pm"Yup, critical for the operator in this case. They have revenue targets to hit and shareholders to keep happy." https://www.reddit.com/r/spacex/comments/76c3gw/spacex_has_an_approved_license_for_10_nov_launch/doda2gm/Small stop-gap GEO sat for SES after their recent on-orbit failures...?
Quote from: Flying Beaver on 10/15/2017 07:01 amQuote from: Craig_VG on 10/14/2017 10:05 pm"Yup, critical for the operator in this case. They have revenue targets to hit and shareholders to keep happy." https://www.reddit.com/r/spacex/comments/76c3gw/spacex_has_an_approved_license_for_10_nov_launch/doda2gm/Small stop-gap GEO sat for SES after their recent on-orbit failures...?I sincerely doubt that such a thing would be possible, at least in response to failures less than a year old. It takes years on average for a satellite to go from paper to launch readiness.
Speaking of failures, Orbcomm has a few of their next-generation satellites fail recently. Could it be a urgently-procured launch for replacements?