[Update: The launch of the secret payload was reportedly a success. The Stage 1 booster returned to the LZ-1 landing pad at Cape Canaveral and landed successfully. If you missed the launch, SpaceX usually posts a recorded copy a few hours after launch at the same YouTube location as the live stream.]
Originally planned for a November launch, the mysterious Zuma mission may finally go to space on Sunday evening. SpaceX has confirmed that its rocket, and the undisclosed national security payload, are ready for launch, and weather conditions appear to be generally favorable. The two-hour launch window opens at 8pm ET.
An undisclosed issue with the Falcon 9 rocket's fairing caused SpaceX to delay the launch for several weeks in November and eventually move the date forward to January 4. Earlier this week additional propellant loading tests contributed to further delays, as did "extreme weather" at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida—mostly gusty winds.
But now conditions for the mysterious mission are 80-percent go, weather-wise, in Florida. This is SpaceX's third classified mission, and arguably its most secretive flight for the US military. All that is publicly known about the Zuma payload is that it is a satellite manufactured for the US government by Northrop Grumman, and it is bound for low-Earth orbit.
According to Spaceflightnow, classified US Military mission payload Zuma, whose launch has been rescheduled several times, has a two-hour launch window coming up shortly.
Launch, and planned booster rocket return to base, are scheduled to be live-streamed on YouTube; coverage begins approximately 15 minutes before the launch window opens.
While waiting, consider partaking of a different kind of Zuma.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Sunday January 07 2018, @10:04PM (1 child)
The local news in San Diego said it was being launched from Vandenberg AFB.
(Score: 3, Informative) by takyon on Sunday January 07 2018, @10:10PM
WFTV9 Orlando: Secret SpaceX 'Zuma' launch scheduled for Sunday [wftv.com]
Ars [arstechnica.com]:
[SIG] 10/28/2017: Soylent Upgrade v14 [soylentnews.org]
(Score: 3, Interesting) by takyon on Sunday January 07 2018, @10:07PM (3 children)
Military Industrial Complex Payload! Thye should have paid that $60m directly to SpaceX for BFR development instead!!!!!!!1
Cultural Appropriation by PopCap Games dev Jason Kapalka [twitter.com]!!! A culture and g_d died to make your shitty clone possible!
With that out of the way, what else can you say? It's not Falcon Heavy, it's a Secret Payload, it has a mysterious-sounding name (much like the SPECTRE bug), it's not Falcon Heavy, and I guess I'll watch it live since I woke up.
[SIG] 10/28/2017: Soylent Upgrade v14 [soylentnews.org]
(Score: 1) by khallow on Sunday January 07 2018, @10:43PM (2 children)
It probably has to launch first. Word is that SpaceX isn't going to launch the Falcon Heavy till Zuma is out of the way.
(Score: 3, Insightful) by takyon on Monday January 08 2018, @01:38AM (1 child)
That Zuma crap is done with! Falcon Heavy noooowww!!
[SIG] 10/28/2017: Soylent Upgrade v14 [soylentnews.org]
(Score: 1) by khallow on Monday January 08 2018, @03:52AM
(Score: 1, Informative) by Anonymous Coward on Sunday January 07 2018, @10:17PM (2 children)
Perhaps you were thinking of the secret city in Ariyona, about to be launched into low-earth orbit, Yuma? At the end of Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2, the Ravenger dude hands Yuma over to Quill, to replace the Waukegon that Ego had "smushed", and says it will hold hundreds of swans. Black swans.
(Score: 1, Informative) by Anonymous Coward on Monday January 08 2018, @03:16AM (1 child)
Yuma?
When TFS said partaking of a different kind of Zuma, my thoughts went to those folks back east whose cojones are about to freeze and how, right about now, they'd like to be somewhere near Malibu. [googleapis.com]
(A smaller number zooms out.)
Friday January 13 looks like it's going to be particularly awesome. [noaa.gov]
-- OriginalOwner_ [soylentnews.org]
(Score: 3, Insightful) by aristarchus on Monday January 08 2018, @05:09AM
Isn't it excessively hot in California, since the Liberals have stolen the Global warming from the Trumpers, New Yorkers, and Eastly Coasters in general, and now are about to lord it over them in ways they never could have possibly concieved, being Stable Genius and, like, really smart, but not smart enough to understand basic science. Oh, the Hugo Manatees!! And the James Joyce Ulysseus! And the Te Choaste what-ever he's written lately.
(Score: 5, Funny) by Geezer on Sunday January 07 2018, @10:29PM (1 child)
High-priority mission to provide global real-time golf course climate conditions to Officer's Clubs everywhere.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Monday January 08 2018, @03:41AM
Yes! Weather War! You're my hero today!
(Score: 2) by frojack on Sunday January 07 2018, @11:17PM
All your missile are belong to your own village.
No, you are mistaken. I've always had this sig.
(Score: 1, Informative) by Anonymous Coward on Monday January 08 2018, @11:04PM
someone should update it
also seems to be on ars site as well so it should be easy to copy and paste that to the revised summary