SpaceX launches secret Zuma mission
SpaceX successfully launched a secretive US government payload called Zuma on a Falcon 9 rocket on 7 January.
The rocket was launched from Cape Canaveral, Florida at 8pm EST.
The launch was initially supposed to take place in November 2017 but was postponed so the California-based company could take a closer look at potential problems with the fairing - the nose cone part of the rocket that protects the payload.
Northrup Grumman, the payload manufacturer, said the launch was for the US government and would be delivered at a low-Earth orbit.
SpaceX has launched national security payloads in the past, including a spy satellite for the National Reconnaissance Office and an X-37B space plane for the USAF.
The company's live webcast did not show video coverage of the Zuma spacecraft after it separated from the first stage of the rocket, but confirmed that the fairings deployed and the payload was well on its way to low-Earth orbit.
After launch, SpaceX returned the tall portion of the Falcon 9 rocket to an upright landing at Cape Canaveral.
According to Elon Musk, chief executive at SpaceX, the goal is to perfect the technique so that rockets can one day become just as reusable as airplanes, thereby lowering the cost of space travel.
You may also like
More from Digital Battlespace
-
![AUSA 2024: General Micro Systems adds four new products to the X9 Spider family]()
AUSA 2024: General Micro Systems adds four new products to the X9 Spider family
The airborne three-domain, the two ground-based and the ¼ ATR OpenVPX-based cross-domain systems were engineered to provide real-time security across multi-domain operations.
-
![BAE Systems gets go-ahead for second phase of mission communications programme]()
BAE Systems gets go-ahead for second phase of mission communications programme
DARPA’s Mission-Integrated Network Control (MINC) programme was set up to develop an autonomous tactical network and enable critical data flow in contested environments.
-
![Just Released: Space Technology Report]()
Just Released: Space Technology Report
Why space is an essential part of modern military capabilities
-
![Work-from-home warfare: the power of mixed reality]()
Work-from-home warfare: the power of mixed reality
Defence-secure mixed reality headsets can save hours, or even weeks, of travel time to fix defunct equipment or get subject experts effectively “on-site” where they are needed.
-
![Northrop Grumman receives follow-on contract for CUAS and C-IED systems]()
Northrop Grumman receives follow-on contract for CUAS and C-IED systems
The Joint Counter Radio-Controlled Improvised Explosive Device Electronic Warfare (JCREW) counter-improvised explosive device (C-IED) and Drone Restricted Access Using Known Electromagnetic Warfare (DRAKE) counter-UAS (CUAS) systems are mounted and dismounted RF jammers.
-
![Adarga’s Vantage AI software selected for UK Strategic Command’s Defence Support]()
Adarga’s Vantage AI software selected for UK Strategic Command’s Defence Support
Adarga’s Vantage information analysis tool is in service with the UK MoD and individual UK forces. It builds on the company’s Knowledge Platform which processes, organises and analyses open source material, as well as information held by the user’s military, security and intelligence services.
