News Archive / Tagged: Zuma

• Was secret Zuma mission lost? – UPDATE

  Jason RhianJanuary 8th, 2018

  CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- A report drafted by Ars Technica's Eric Berger has stated that sources have suggested that the classified Zuma mission launched atop a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket - may have been lost. 

• SpaceX launches secretive ‘Zuma’ mission

  Jason RhianJanuary 7th, 2018

  KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, Fla. — California-based Space Exploration Technologies (SpaceX) launched a "Full Thrust" Falcon 9 rocket with the "Zuma" payload on January 7, 2017, at 8:00 p.m. EST (01:00 GMT Jan. 8).  This evening's launch was a long time in the making and signaled the start of a busy year of firsts for the NewSpace firm.

• SFI LIVE: SpaceX Falcon 9 with ‘Zuma’

  Jason RhianJanuary 7th, 2018

  CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- SpaceX is set to launch its first Falcon 9 rocket from Cape Canaveral's Space Launch Complex 40 on Sunday, Jan. 7. The two-hour long launch window is slated to open at 8 p.m. EST (00:00 GMT on Monday, Jan. 8). Little is known about the 'Zuma' mission and SFI Live should begin its coverage from Exploration Tower at 7:30 p.m. EST (00:30 GMT). While other sites promise you "live" coverage - only SFI hosts its own Live Show from the launch site!

• Launch of Zuma now TBD or is it Jan. 6? – UPDATE

  Jason RhianJanuary 4th, 2018

  CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- SpaceX's planned launch of the classified "Zuma" mission has slipped from 2017 to Thursday Jan. 4, to Friday Jan. 5 and now is listed as "To Be Determined." The announcement of the latest delay was made by the 45th Space Wing on their website. Some sources, meanwhile, are stating the secretive launch will take place on Saturday, Jan. 6. So which is it?

• SpaceX conducts rehearsal for classified Zuma launch

  Bart LeahyJanuary 3rd, 2018

  After being rescheduled twice, once in late 2017 due to an issue with the Falcon 9 fairing, and once this month due to cold weather in Florida—SpaceX conducted a “wet” dress rehearsal (WDR) for the Zuma mission today (Wednesday Jan. 3), according to a report on NASASpaceflight.com.

• Area 51? Forget it! In terms of SpaceX Crew Dragon – it’s all Area 59

  Jason RhianJanuary 2nd, 2018

  CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- With 2018 just taking its initial steps SpaceX is already moving forward with plans for the new year. The company's COO, Gwynne Shotwell, noted during a 2016 press conference, the "hell" they won't launch crew in 2018. That year has come and, according to Florida Today's James Dean, Crew Dragon is being readied for this mission via a recent agreement signed between SpaceX and the U.S. Air Force.

• What does the payload fairing issue mean for the remainder of SpaceX’s 2017 launch manifest?

  Jason RhianNovember 18th, 2017

  KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, Fla. — The classified "Zuma" mission has been delayed, and a report from an unconfirmed source suggests that the reason for the delay could cause a premature close to most of the remainder of SpaceX's 2017 launch manifest.

• SpaceX, ULA reschedule next launches

  Derek RichardsonNovember 16th, 2017

  Both SpaceX and United Launch Alliance (ULA) have rescheduled their next launches from the East and West Coasts, respectively. SpaceX, which will be sending the mystery “Zuma” payload into space atop a Falcon 9 rocket, opted to postpone by at least a day to examine data from a recent payload fairing test. ULA, on the other hand, is hoping to fly its Delta II after two scrubbed attempts.

• SpaceX mum about November ‘mystery’ launch

  Jason RhianOctober 20th, 2017

  CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. — Much like the tile-matching video game of the same name, what the payload could be for a suggested Nov. 10, 2017, SpaceX "mystery" launch remains a puzzle. As was reported on SpaceFlight Now, regulatory findings suggest the company could attempt a launch 11 days after the planned Oct. 30 flight of Koreasat 5A.