SpaceX will attempt to launch a spy satellite for the first time on Sunday, breaking a 10-year United Launch Alliance monopoly on classified U.S. launches.
The two-hour launch window opens at 7:00 a.m. EDT (11:00 UTC), with a backup launch window the next day at the same time. SpaceX will attempt to recover the first stage rocket.
Also at NASASpaceFlight and The Verge. Falcon Heavy test firing begins soon.
[UPDATE 1: The launch is being live-streamed on YouTube . --martyb]
[UPDATE 2: Launch was scrubbed at T minus 1 minute due to "a sensor issue on the first stage" — launch now scheduled for same time tomorrow: Monday, May 1, 2017 at 0700 EDT / 1100 UTC. --martyb]
[UPDATE 3: The Monday launch is being live-streamed on YouTube. --martyb]
[UPDATE 4: The launch took place at 07:15 AM EDT (11:15 AM UTC). Launch was successful and the first stage booster had a successful return and landing at Landing Zone 1 near the launch site. --martyb]
(Score: 2) by c0lo on Sunday April 30 2017, @08:02AM
N/T
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aoFiw2jMy-0 https://soylentnews.org/~MichaelDavidCrawford
(Score: -1, Troll) by Anonymous Coward on Sunday April 30 2017, @08:44AM (2 children)
I hope that Trump cock feels good up Musk's ass because he's a sell-out bitch whore.
(Score: 2) by c0lo on Sunday April 30 2017, @09:03AM
FTFY.
The only difference between them is the class: Elon is in the super category, Trump's just a cheap one.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aoFiw2jMy-0 https://soylentnews.org/~MichaelDavidCrawford
(Score: 2) by kaszz on Monday May 01 2017, @04:18PM
Space is expensive and they need the money they can get. It's not like if SpaceX won't that ULA won't either. Besides Elon seems to be the only rich person that will really make a difference and not just retire into some rich comfort living.
Besides there's a lot of people that everyday exchange their services and time for money. Salary whoring I think it's called ;)
(Score: 3, Informative) by pkrasimirov on Sunday April 30 2017, @09:01AM
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xvs4tJ3qegM [youtube.com]
(Score: 4, Insightful) by MostCynical on Sunday April 30 2017, @11:07AM (1 child)
Elon is a pure capitalist
spies have money
Elon takes money, launches spies' satellite.
Is there an employer out there, anywhere, that is really nice, all the time?
If not, we're all whores, if we work for money.
Isn't that capitalism?
"I guess once you start doubting, there's no end to it." -Batou, Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex
(Score: 2, Insightful) by Anonymous Coward on Monday May 01 2017, @01:39AM
Who said prostitution is wrong? Why should we listen to them?
(Score: 2) by MostCynical on Sunday April 30 2017, @12:15PM
stopped at t minus 52 seconds.
Eight hours to wait.
"I guess once you start doubting, there's no end to it." -Batou, Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex
(Score: 2) by takyon on Monday May 01 2017, @12:09PM (1 child)
After those initial adjacent failures to land the first stage booster, SpaceX has been nailing it every time. Maybe because they aren't using the drone barge as much?
The real test will be relauncing the used boosters, which they have only done once.
Anyway, while they have only 2 Air Force contracts [theverge.com] coming up, more can be grabbed this year [af.mil]:
[SIG] 10/28/2017: Soylent Upgrade v14 [soylentnews.org]
(Score: 3, Informative) by theluggage on Monday May 01 2017, @12:34PM
After those initial adjacent failures to land the first stage booster, SpaceX has been nailing it every time. Maybe because they aren't using the drone barge as much?
You can't really compare: I believe the drone barge landings are for the higher/faster/heavier/whatever launches that don't have the fuel reserves to, basically, turn around and fly back to the launch site - so they're naturally more demanding.
(Score: 4, Informative) by wonkey_monkey on Monday May 01 2017, @02:48PM (1 child)
Up, Up, and Away!
That's not how satellites work...
systemd is Roko's Basilisk
(Score: 2) by DeathMonkey on Monday May 01 2017, @05:53PM
Down, Down and Forever?
(Score: 3, Insightful) by MrGuy on Monday May 01 2017, @03:35PM
Really appreciate the "extra mile" for an editor to keep this story up to date and relevant as the situation evolved.
(Score: 2) by DannyB on Monday May 01 2017, @05:34PM (1 child)
I just happened to wake up a few minutes before the launch. So I watched it instead of going back to sleep.
I wonder if we'll ever know if the satellite was successfully delivered into the proper orbit? All we seem to get to know is that everything was okay through MECO and they nailed the landing.
Every performance optimization is a grate wait lifted from my shoulders.
(Score: 3, Informative) by takyon on Monday May 01 2017, @06:31PM
Don't amateurs track these classified satellites all the time?
https://sattrackcam.blogspot.com/2017/04/what-is-nrol-76-and-what-orbit-wil-it.html [blogspot.com]
[SIG] 10/28/2017: Soylent Upgrade v14 [soylentnews.org]
(Score: 2) by pkrasimirov on Tuesday May 02 2017, @09:33PM
Thank you, martyb.