The scene at Cape Canaveral just prior to the launch. Image Credit: YouTube / SpaceX
The private space firm succeeded in sending a top secret US military satellite in to orbit this morning.
The Falcon 9 rocket took off from the Kennedy Space Center in Florida at 7:15 a.m. EDT carrying a classified spy satellite developed by the National Reconnaissance Office.
As usual the rocket's booster stage, once detached, came back in for a gentle landing.
No details of the payload's mission or final trajectory were revealed by the company.
"Launch and landing of the NRO spy satellite was good," said SpaceX CEO Elon Musk who also noted that the decision to proceed had been a "tough call" due to high altitude wind shear.
The successful landing of the rocket's booster stage marks the tenth such success overall and the fourth to have been achieved at the Cape Canaveral Air Force Station.
Reusable rockets are a big thing for private space firms as they have the potential to significantly reduce the cost of each launch and make missions in to space a lot more affordable.
Who says it's different? The National Reconnaissance Office operate many satellites with many different capabilities. Some are optical spy satellites, taking images of potential enemies. Others gather electronic information, attempting to intercept communications. Yet others look at the infrared, watching for missile launches or traces of submerged submarines. Like all satellites they will have a finite life time and will need replacing from time to time. This may be some new type of satellite or it may just be a replacement for an aging one.
So you know what the satellite is, what orbit it is in, what it is observing, how much it cost, etc do you? Of course you don't, that's because it is SECRET!!!
"Look! We're launching a spy satellite! Don't watch where we put it into orbit! It's a SECRET spy satellite. SSSSSSssssshhhhhhhh ...." There's a ton of space junk up there already. What's another one?
Well gee, I don't know Waspie. Maybe because it was depicted as being 'top' secret. Naturally, one wonders and becomes a tad more curious after making such an announcement. I see...
You do realise that they just showed the launch, they didn't go into detail about the satellite or what it's going to be used for. Therefore the secret is still intact.
Sarcasm is lost on people these days. That being said, probably should not have TELEVISED a SECRET satellite launch. But whatever, I was making a joke.
Why not? You just don't seem to be getting the point. The launch was not secret. The payload IS secret. How would not televising the launch make any difference? You do realise that it is pretty much impossible to hide the launch of a large rocket from either Florida or California don't you? With them being visible from tens or hundreds of miles away many tens of thousands of people can see these launches without having to switch on the TV. Launches of classified satellites for NRO all almost always televised, the only difference is that this one was provided by SpaceX instead of United Launch ... [More]
First bolded item: good chance somebody else is watching it and tracking what pattern it goes into orbit. Second bolded item: that's an ad hominem, sir or madam. I made light of the situation. I didn't make fun of you. It is silly that this is being reported, hence the joke. I originally thought you were joking along with me, but I guess not.
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