Tuesday, March 19, 2024
Contact    |    RSS icon Twitter icon Facebook icon  
Unexplained Mysteries
You are viewing: Home > News > Space & Astronomy > News story
Welcome Guest ( Login or Register )  
All ▾
Search Submit

Space & Astronomy

SpaceX launches secretive US spy satellite

By T.K. Randall
May 1, 2017 · Comment icon 11 comments

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.



Source: CBS News | Comments (11)




Other news and articles
Recent comments on this story
Comment icon #2 Posted by Astra. 7 years ago
I was under the impression that the US already had a number of spy / surveillance satellites in space. I wonder what's so different about this one ?
Comment icon #3 Posted by Waspie_Dwarf 7 years ago
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.
Comment icon #4 Posted by Waspie_Dwarf 7 years ago
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!!!
Comment icon #5 Posted by kartikg 7 years ago
Aren't governments supposed to take some slot for satellite orbit? if its secret how a collision can be prevented? 
Comment icon #6 Posted by BeastieRunner 7 years ago
"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?
Comment icon #7 Posted by Astra. 7 years ago
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...
Comment icon #8 Posted by XClashGames 7 years ago
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.
Comment icon #9 Posted by BeastieRunner 7 years ago
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.
Comment icon #10 Posted by Waspie_Dwarf 7 years ago
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]
Comment icon #11 Posted by BeastieRunner 7 years ago
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.


Please Login or Register to post a comment.


Our new book is out now!
Book cover

The Unexplained Mysteries
Book of Weird News

 AVAILABLE NOW 

Take a walk on the weird side with this compilation of some of the weirdest stories ever to grace the pages of a newspaper.

Click here to learn more

We need your help!
Patreon logo

Support us on Patreon

 BONUS CONTENT 

For less than the cost of a cup of coffee, you can gain access to a wide range of exclusive perks including our popular 'Lost Ghost Stories' series.

Click here to learn more

Recent news and articles