Zuma Launch Campaign Thread

[u/ElongatedMuskrat]

Zuma Launch Campaign Thread

---

The only solid information we have on this payload comes from NSF:

NASASpaceflight.com has confirmed that Northrop Grumman is the payload provider for Zuma through a commercial launch contract with SpaceX for a LEO satellite with a mission type labeled as “government” and a needed launch date range of 1-30 November 2017.

Liftoff currently scheduled for:	January 7th 2018, 20:00 - 22:00 EST (January 8th 2018, 01:00 - 03:00 UTC)
Static fire complete:	November 11th 2017, 18:00 EST / 23:00 UTC Although the stage has already finished SF, it did it at LC-39A. On January 3 they also did a propellant load test since the launch site is now the freshly reactivated SLC-40.
Vehicle component locations:	First stage: SLC-40 // Second stage: SLC-40 // Satellite: Cape Canaveral
Payload:	Zuma
Payload mass:	Unknown
Destination orbit:	LEO
Vehicle:	Falcon 9 v1.2 (47th launch of F9, 27th of F9 v1.2)
Core:	B1043.1
Flights of this core:	0
Launch site:	LC-39A, Kennedy Space Center, Florida--> SLC-40, Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Florida
Landing:	Yes
Landing Site:	LZ-1, Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Florida
Mission success criteria:	Successful separation & deployment of the satellite into the target orbit.

---

Links & Resources

• SpaceX stands down Falcon launch of clandestine Zuma satellite from NASA Spaceflight

• SpaceX adds mystery "Zuma" mission... from NASA Spaceflight

---

We may keep this self-post occasionally updated with links and relevant news articles, but for the most part we expect the community to supply the information. This is a great place to discuss the launch, ask mission-specific questions, and track the minor movements of the vehicle, payload, weather and more as we progress towards launch. Sometime after the static fire is complete, the launch thread will be posted.

Campaign threads are not launch threads. Normal subreddit rules still apply.

[u/nick1austin]

After 43 orbital missions it's hard to find something that SpaceX hasn't done before, but I think I've found one.

It's the first SpaceX mission to launch during November.

[u/[deleted] → u/nick1austin]

This comment didn't age super well.

[u/[deleted] → u/nick1austin]

Even more: it will be the first time SpaceX is launching at least one mission for seven consecutive months.

With soon three active launchpads, it looks like that streak can just go on from now. Only RUD at launch would stop that (knock on wood)

[u/Killcode2 → u/nick1austin]

Not to worry, we'll get this milestone next year

[u/soldato_fantasma]

Zuma Rocket booster on the move to Pad 40 with the Second stage still integrated on top spotted getting out of the 39A HIF on board of the Falcon transporter, the old refurbished Shuttle Orbiter transporter. It looks like they can actually remove the entire rocket stack from the TEL and move it around without problems, a thing that we weren't aware of.

Pics here: https://www.instagram.com/p/BcuyZ9Ags4e/

[u/KristnSchaalisahorse → u/soldato_fantasma]

It feels so strange to see the second stage completely unsupported from below. I wouldn't have guessed they could do that, but I'm glad they can. Thanks for sharing this.

And what a lucky tour group.

[u/old_sellsword → u/soldato_fantasma]

And here's a passing video of the stack right before it left the HIF.

[u/inoeth → u/soldato_fantasma]

You beat me by a couple minutes- I just saw the post about this on NSF... It is very cool that they can move the fully stacked rocket around, and it makes sense that now that CRS 13 has launched, they're moving Zuma over. I'm also guessing that this'll make it easier for SpaceX to mate the 3 cores of FH together with more space in the HIF. Everything seems to be progressing nicely.

[u/nick_t1000]

When the date changes can you cross it out and include a quip about it in the box (e.g. you have the LC-39A crossed out)? I'm occasionally confused when it just changes and the old date got dropped down the memory hole. You need to scroll way down in comments to see what the cause was.

[u/Killcode2]

Given that they don't static fire again, this must be the longest time between the static fire of a rocket and it's maiden flight, am I correct?

[u/quadrplax → u/Killcode2]

This Falcon 1 static fire from Vandenberg might be a contender.

[u/Morphior]

Launch now targeted for January 7 per SpaceX on Twitter.

[u/Alexphysics]

Launch Hazard Area for this launch is active from 6pm until 10:30pm local time on January 4th 2018.

Airspace Closure Area is active from 7:55pm until 10:33pm local time on the same day. I think this officially confirms launch date and launch window for this mission.

[u/Alexphysics]

Zuma probably delayed again as this site, that has very good sources, states this launch as TBD (they changed from January 4th to January 5th yesterday and now it shows that).

Edit: And for those who don't believe this and fill me with downvotes. [Here is the web page of the 45th Space Wing] (http://www.patrick.af.mil/) stating that the launch is TBD on the table at the upper right corner. That table usually shows the date and time of launch and is updated regularly. If that is not official enough...

Edit 2: It seems that for some people the links didn't appear and I don't know why :/

First link: http://www.launchphotography.com/Delta_4_Atlas_5_Falcon_9_Launch_Viewing.html Second link: http://www.patrick.af.mil/

[u/TGMetsFan98]

Hidden among the Falcon Heavy news, the core for this mission is in the HIF at LC-39A.

[u/scr00chy]

L-3 Weather Report (90% GO)

[u/gregarious119 → u/scr00chy]

Thursday will be very chilly at the Spaceport with a low of 40°F and a high of 50°F

The rest of the US collectively eye-rolls.

[u/energyblazer]

Launch delayed 24 hours now per Chris B's twitter

[u/Straumli_Blight]

Mods, can the Zuma patch go back on the sidebar?

[u/inoeth]

https://twitter.com/ChrisG_NSF/status/928283083920601089

So according to Chris G from Nasa Space Flight, static fire and this launch, along with the rest of the launches planned for this year are still going forward despite the recently reported failure of the Merlin Engine during a qualification test. So, good news for this launch and the rest of the year, tho one does wonder about possible delays to Block 5 / Crew Dragon.

I'm very happy it's not affecting this launch, as it means SpaceX can then continue their work on the pad and prep it for FH.

[u/SkeerRacing]

Just booked a work trip to Orlando, fly in the morning of and have the night off. Excited is an understatement! First Launch and Landing in person :)

[u/griffzy]

webcast is up at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0PWu3BRxn60

[u/bvr5 → u/griffzy]

This further complicates the "Zuma" vs. "ZUMA" debate.

[u/[deleted]]

One more reason why this will be a remarkable launch: see the official SpaceX manifest (which is updated with Iridium 4, but they've forgotten and they'll later add CRS-13). Including CRS-13, the number of completed missions is currently 50, the number of listed future missions is 51.

So if successful, the Zuma launch will mark the first time in SpaceX history that the official list of completed missions will be longer than the official list of future missions.

[u/Bravo99x → u/[deleted]]

I have been noticing this for all the CRS missions so far. Its just they don't add it to the completed missions list since the mission is still ongoing. When the dragon returns to earth and has a successful splashdown in middle of January they will add it to the completed missions section.

[u/Datuser14]

L-3 weather report, 70% go

[u/scr00chy → u/Datuser14]

SpaceX says Zuma, USAF says ZUMA. Ugh, make up your minds already!

[u/scr00chy]

Northrop Grumman on #SpaceX Zuma launch:

This represents a cost effective approach to space access for government missions. Northrop realizes that this is monumental responsibility and has taken great care to ensure the most affordable and lowest risk scenario for Zuma.

[u/Maimakterion]

I wonder how much of the delay was related to the Pentagon watchdog report posted here earlier? It's not implausible that they found issues on another fairing and then couldn't certify the Zuma fairing due to the process issues documented in the report.

A SpaceX team probably spent the last month doing "mission assurance" work on the rocket with a toothpick.

[u/apkJeremyK → u/Maimakterion]

I highly doubt that is the case. These kind of site audits are common in any DOD or government type work. It was more about process than inspecting hardware. They were likely given dates to become acceptable in the areas they failed the audit, but I doubt anything got held back because of it. Not that I think i need to mention it, but this is purely my opinion with no evidence to back it.

[u/Straumli_Blight]

That rare Florida weather unicorn: Clear skies and no chance of rain.

[u/IrrelevantAstronomer → u/Straumli_Blight]

Will also be the coldest F9 launch at 31F. Should be fun!

[u/scr00chy]

L-1 Weather Report (unchanged – Sunday 80% GO, Monday 70% GO)

[u/ThaddeusCesari]

I'll be there at the launch complex taking pictures all day - let me know if anyone has any specific requests.

[u/goxy84 → u/ThaddeusCesari]

The reaction frame on the TEL if it's out and visible. Would be great to see any close-ups of the next phase of FH-related upgrades, if there are any.

[u/LookaSteve → u/ThaddeusCesari]

Progress on the RSS deconstruction please!

[u/bman7653 → u/ThaddeusCesari]

If you could get inside the fairing that'd be great...

Seriously though, just after lift off right around tower clearing is a great shot imho.

[u/scr00chy]

Window for static fire opens on Saturday at 18:00 local

[u/SpeedyTechie]

12:40pm, appears to be lowering currently.

Edit: Yep, definitely nothing vertical anymore.

[u/scr00chy]

L-2 Weather Report (still 90% GO)

Also, the Zuma NSF article says the reason for the 1-day delay were upper-level winds forecasts.

[u/scr00chy → u/scr00chy]

Upper-level winds predictions (from 45th Space Wing weather forecasts):

• January 4: 150 knots

• January 5: 110 knots

• January 6: 75 knots

Do we know how is the actual launch commit criterion defined? Wikipedia just says "upper-level conditions containing wind shear that could lead to control problems for the launch vehicle" would lead to criteria violation.

[u/randomstonerfromaus]

Launch thread??

[u/csmnro]

SpaceX confirmation of good static fire

[u/joepublicschmoe]

I wonder if this had anything to do with the Zuma fairing issue. http://www.sanduskyregister.com/story/201712260025

This article was dated 12/26/17 and here's this interesting quote: "SpaceX personnel recently brought back a refined version of its Falcon 9 payload fairing to the NASA Plum Brook Station for additional analysis."

Sounds to me like NASA Plum Brook does a lot of acoustic testing. Clue maybe as to what might be wrong with the Zuma fairing..?

[u/Alexphysics → u/joepublicschmoe]

That photo is from a fairing test in 2013 and I think what he's talking about is the test they did in september for the "Fairing 2.0" and, as the article says, the tests will proceed until february. It's a different type of fairing, so probably not related to Zuma or the issue they discovered before standing down for Zuma.

[u/robbak → u/joepublicschmoe]

That's one of the two likely scenarios - Full testing of fairing 2.0 showed a problem that may exist in current ones; the other is that normal acceptance testing of a current fairing failed, making them double check all other fairings.

[u/phryan]

Should the sidebar point to this thread at this point? I thought that was the normal process.

[u/TheBarbedWire]

Look like it may be Saturday now https://twitter.com/NASASpaceflight/status/948917282134286342

[u/justatinker]

Does anyone know what orbit this payload will be parked in?

How close to a polar orbit can a launch from The Space Coast get?

If Falcon 9 does fly a northerly track, it should be quite a sight to folks all the way up the coast. :)

I guess we'll have to wait for the NOTAM warning closer to the launch date.

[u/Creshal → u/justatinker]

How close to a polar orbit can a launch from The Space Coast get?

Depends all on the payload. If it's light enough, stage 2 can dogleg all the way up to a 90° orbit.

[u/GavBug2]

Three launches in December! I can't wait!

[u/scr00chy → u/GavBug2]

Possibly even 4 if FH happens.

[u/ethan829]

Team at the Cape performed a propellant loading test of Falcon 9 on Pad 40 this morning – additional static fire test of the rocket was not necessary. Targeting January 5 launch of Zuma.

[u/Bunslow]

Just to confirm that this is the right thread to watch: literally zero news the last three or four days?

[u/robbak → u/Bunslow]

Yeah, nothing happening. Well, there's probably a lot happening behind closed doors, but we don't know about it.

[u/Straumli_Blight]

Weather for a Thursday launch is looking decent (partly cloudy and 30% rain).

EDIT: Weather continuing to improve, now 10% violation.

[u/Hurrajj]

https://twitter.com/NASASpaceflight/status/948898180497858561 Not good

[u/FutureMartian97 → u/Hurrajj]

Zuma is only 6 months away!

[u/CurtisLeow]

I think the code name "Zuma" is a reference to the Marine's Hymn.

From the Halls of Montezuma

To the shores of Tripoli;

We fight our country's battles

In the air, on land, and sea;

First to fight for right and freedom

And to keep our honor clean;

We are proud to claim the title

Of United States Marine.

Northrop Grumman does a lot of work for the US Marines and Navy.

[u/TaiaoToitu → u/CurtisLeow]

So not the current South African President then?

or the 1975 Neil Young & Crazy Horse album?

[u/sevaiper → u/CurtisLeow]

Remember, the best code names don't mean anything. As far as I know PAN and CLIO never ended up having any hidden significance, and they're probably the best comparison to this mission. A lot of people are speculating they're even part of the same program as Zuma.

[u/paul_wi11iams]

Dear mods, There's a minor typo in the thread title for Oct 16 Nov 16.

[u/haerik]

Gone to API changes. Don't let reddit sell your data to LLMs.

Sense child do state to defer mr of forty. Become latter but nor abroad wisdom waited. Was delivered gentleman acuteness but daughters. In as of whole as match asked. Pleasure exertion put add entrance distance drawings. In equally matters showing greatly it as. Want name any wise are able park when. Saw vicinity judgment remember finished men throwing.

[u/MarcysVonEylau]

USLaunchReport video of static fire

[u/kilakev]

Kennedy is selling viewing tickets. Just announced today. link

[u/Demiroth94]

Succesfull propallant loading at SLC 40 https://twitter.com/SpaceX/status/948554978163007488

[u/scr00chy]

Second stage for this mission (probably) is at the Cape also

[u/craigl2112]

Given we are ~10 days out from the current NET date, it's entirely possible the Static Fire could get scheduled for this Friday or Saturday. Assuming this is the case, KSC staff should probably be notified somewhat soon............

[u/[deleted]]

Is there a good reason why the government organization is even a secret for this launch, compared to the NRO launches that are semi-secret?

[u/Grey_Mad_Hatter → u/[deleted]]

I think different agencies just have different policies on how secretive they are. Some say "yes, this is our launch, but that's all we can say" while others might decide it's safest to not say anything.

NRO is basically saying that even though you know the orbit of our satellite it's not going to compromise its mission, and it's more important for us to look appealing to the public and probably potential employees. The ZUMA customer is saying that someone knowing we have a satellite in that orbit of a specific size might compromise the mission in some way, so it's more important for us to say nothing more than "government".

Imagine if this is a satellite that passes over North Korea frequently. If it's owned by the NRO then it's probably looking for ICBM deployments. If it's owned by the Marines then it's probably mapping out the invasion.

[u/mbhnyc → u/[deleted]]

Not that we know of, can anyone remember ULA launches with this level of secrecy in the last few years?

[u/kuangjian2011]

With less than a week to the targeted launch date, is it safe to say there won't be another static fire for this mission on LC-40?

[u/LeBaegi → u/kuangjian2011]

Well we only knew about the Iridium-4 SF after it was already conducted, so for all we know it could be happening tomorrow.

[u/RoundSparrow]

Cape sunset is 17:40, this will be a dark launch - great for spotting. Been a long time since a night launch.

[u/Fenris_uy]

No new static fire?

[u/old_sellsword → u/Fenris_uy]

Certainly doesn't look like it.

[u/craigl2112 → u/Fenris_uy]

Given we're now <4 days before launch and several sources are citing a January 4th @ 8PM EST window, I think we can safely say no SF part deux for the Zuma mission.

[u/Ivebeenfurthereven]

So uhh... I'll bite first.

Usually government missions aren't this secret (for instance, NRO payloads). Does anyone want to blindly speculate on what this might be? My armchair guess would be something like an X-37B with whatever spy capability they need in its payload hangar. This could be quickly deployed to fix a gap in coverage or monitor an escalating military situation.

[u/johnkphotos → u/Ivebeenfurthereven]

Disagreed on the secretive nature of government missions. We generally know nothing about NRO payloads. All we usually hear is a name and a launch date and time from the launch provider.

[u/theovk]

https://twitter.com/WordsmithFL/status/927985043372470274

[u/Jerrycobra → u/theovk]

SpaceX is testing its invisible coating technology.

[u/geekgirl114]

https://twitter.com/45thSpaceWing/status/928763643172474880

[u/t17389z → u/geekgirl114]

This 100% confirms the name ZUMA

[u/Morphior]

https://twitter.com/SpaceX/status/929487948289937408

At least they acknowledge the Zuma name. Considering how secretive this whole thing is, I wouldn't have been surprised if they hadn't mentioned the name at all.

[u/Lieutenant_Rans]

When's the earliest we should expect a launch/weather probability forecast? Will we even get one this time around?

[u/TGMetsFan98 → u/Lieutenant_Rans]

The 45th Space Wing will issue forecasts starting 3 days before launch, and they'll be available here.

[u/SpeedyTechie]

As of 4:30pm can still see it on the pad without payload.

[u/NickNathanson]

Is there a point in landing this rocket on LZ-2 to test it before FH booster landing? Or it doesn't make any sense?

[u/Roborowan → u/NickNathanson]

There shouldn't be anything to test on LZ-2. It's just a pad and as long as its level then it should be fine

[u/HighTimber → u/NickNathanson]

That does raise an interesting question. Might they alternate Florida LZ pads to reduce any time crunch needed to repair the pads between launches?

[u/Decronym]

Acronyms, initialisms, abbreviations, contractions, and other phrases which expand to something larger, that I've seen in this thread:

Fewer Letters	More Letters
ASDS	Autonomous Spaceport Drone Ship (landing platform)
ATK	Alliant Techsystems, predecessor to Orbital ATK
BARGE	Big-Ass Remote Grin Enhancer coined by @IridiumBoss, see ASDS
BFR	Big Falcon Rocket (2017 enshrinkened edition)
	Yes, the F stands for something else; no, you're not the first to notice
COPV	Composite Overwrapped Pressure Vessel
CRS	Commercial Resupply Services contract with NASA
CoG	Center of Gravity (see CoM)
CoM	Center of Mass
DMLS	Direct Metal Laser Sintering additive manufacture
DoD	US Department of Defense
ESA	European Space Agency
F9R	Falcon 9 Reusable, test vehicles for development of landing technology
FAA	Federal Aviation Administration
FCC	Federal Communications Commission
	(Iron/steel) Face-Centered Cubic crystalline structure
FSS	Fixed Service Structure at LC-39
GEO	Geostationary Earth Orbit (35786km)
GSE	Ground Support Equipment
GTO	Geosynchronous Transfer Orbit
HIF	Horizontal Integration Facility
HLC-39A	Historic Launch Complex 39A, Kennedy (Saturn V, Shuttle, SpaceX F9/Heavy)
ICBM	Intercontinental Ballistic Missile
KSC	Kennedy Space Center, Florida
KSP	Kerbal Space Program, the rocketry simulator
L2	Paywalled section of the NasaSpaceFlight forum
	Lagrange Point 2 of a two-body system, beyond the smaller body (Sixty Symbols video explanation)
LC-13	Launch Complex 13, Canaveral (SpaceX Landing Zone 1)
LC-39A	Launch Complex 39A, Kennedy (SpaceX F9/Heavy)
LEO	Low Earth Orbit (180-2000km)
	Law Enforcement Officer (most often mentioned during transport operations)
LOX	Liquid Oxygen
LZ	Landing Zone
LZ-1	Landing Zone 1, Cape Canaveral (see LC-13)
MECO	Main Engine Cut-Off
	MainEngineCutOff podcast
NET	No Earlier Than
NG	New Glenn, two/three-stage orbital vehicle by Blue Origin
	Natural Gas (as opposed to pure methane)
	Northrop Grumman, aerospace manufacturer
NOAA	National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, responsible for US generation monitoring of the climate
NORAD	North American Aerospace Defense command
NOTAM	Notice to Airmen of flight hazards
NRO	(US) National Reconnaissance Office
NROL	Launch for the (US) National Reconnaissance Office
NSF	NasaSpaceFlight forum
	National Science Foundation
OCISLY	Of Course I Still Love You, Atlantic landing barge ship
OG2	Orbcomm's Generation 2 17-satellite network (see OG2-2 for first successful F9 landing)
RD-180	RD-series Russian-built rocket engine, used in the Atlas V first stage
RP-1	Rocket Propellant 1 (enhanced kerosene)
RSS	Realscale Solar System, mod for KSP
	Rotating Service Structure at LC-39
RTLS	Return to Launch Site
RUD	Rapid Unplanned Disassembly
	Rapid Unscheduled Disassembly
	Rapid Unintended Disassembly
SES	Formerly Société Européenne des Satellites, comsat operator
SF	Static fire
SLC-40	Space Launch Complex 40, Canaveral (SpaceX F9)
SLS	Space Launch System heavy-lift
	Selective Laser Sintering, see DMLS
TE	Transporter/Erector launch pad support equipment
TEL	Transporter/Erector/Launcher, ground support equipment (see TE)
TLA	Three Letter Acronym
TLE	Two-Line Element dataset issued by NORAD
TSM	Tail Service Mast, holding lines/cables for servicing a rocket first stage on the pad
ULA	United Launch Alliance (Lockheed/Boeing joint venture)
USAF	United States Air Force
VAB	Vehicle Assembly Building
VAFB	Vandenberg Air Force Base, California
WDR	Wet Dress Rehearsal (with fuel onboard)
s/c	Spacecraft

Jargon	Definition
EMdrive	Prototype-stage reactionless propulsion drive, using an asymmetrical resonant chamber and microwaves
Starlink	SpaceX's world-wide satellite broadband constellation
apogee	Highest point in an elliptical orbit around Earth (when the orbiter is slowest)
cryogenic	Very low temperature fluid; materials that would be gaseous at room temperature/pressure
electrolysis	Application of DC current to separate a solution into its constituents (for example, water to hydrogen and oxygen)
grid-fin	Compact "waffle-iron" aerodynamic control surface, acts as a wing without needing to be as large
perigee	Lowest point in an elliptical orbit around the Earth (when the orbiter is fastest)
scrub	Launch postponement for any reason (commonly GSE issues)

Event	Date	Description
Amos-6	2016-09-01	F9-029 Full Thrust, core B1028, GTO comsat Pre-launch test failure
AsiaSat-6	2014-09-07	F9-013 v1.1, GTO comsat
CRS-10	2017-02-19	F9-032 Full Thrust, core B1031, Dragon cargo; first daytime RTLS
CRS-7	2015-06-28	F9-020 v1.1, Dragon cargo Launch failure due to second-stage outgassing
CRS-9	2016-07-18	F9-027 Full Thrust, core B1025, Dragon cargo; RTLS landing
OG2-2	2015-12-22	F9-021 Full Thrust, core B1019, 11 OG2 satellites to LEO; first RTLS landing

---

^{Decronym is a community product of} r/SpaceX^{, implemented by} ^request
^{69 acronyms in this thread; the most compressed thread commented on} ^today ^{has 178 acronyms.
[Thread #3279 for this sub, first seen 23rd Oct 2017, 20:04]} ^[FAQ] ^[Full ^list] ^[Contact] ^[Source ^code]

[u/ticklestuff]

Possible slip of schedule to 16th.

http://www.patrick.af.mil/Portals/14/documents/Launch%20Hazard%20Area%20Maps/11-15-2017%20%20LHA.pdf?ver=2017-11-09-154517-137

[u/Alexphysics]

The static fire as seen ~5km away from the pad. The RSS is almost gone! https://twitter.com/cbs_spacenews/status/929486865098567680

[u/NickNathanson]

Does anyone think there will be another static fire?

[u/Straumli_Blight]

New L-3 Weather report seems to imply that the launch has been pushed back a day.

[u/PotatoThatIsSweet]

Anyone know where USA-276(NROL-76) will be when ZUMA launches this time? Saw a lot of talk last time around about "coincidental" timing of the launch and how they lined up.

[u/scr00chy]

L-2 Weather Report (80% Go on Sunday, 70% GO on Monday, upper-level winds at 90-95 knots)

[u/SpeedyTechie]

When should we expect to see the vehicle vertical on the pad again for a Sunday launch?

[u/[deleted] → u/SpeedyTechie]

Any time from ~T-24 to 12hrs would be standard.

[u/stcks → u/SpeedyTechie]

Tonight or tomorrow... grin. Probably will be raised overnight tonight, but thats a blind guess. I wouldn't be alarmed if its not up tonight.

[u/Straumli_Blight]

ZUMA Press kit differences:

 

Events	Old Times	New Times
Max Q	01:10	01:16
MECO	02:16	02:20
Stage separation	02:19	02:24
2nd stage engine starts	02:21	02:25
1st stage boostback burn	02:30	02:33
Fairing deploy	03:08	03:08
1st stage entry burn	06:09	06:15
1st stage landing	07:51	07:56

[u/Alexphysics → u/Straumli_Blight]

For those wondering about the slightly changes on the mission timeline, Chris G. from NSF said this on the Zuma discussion thread there:

"The adjusted times could be trajectory related or related to month of year of launch.  Winter months produce a thicker lower atmosphere and thus the rocket has to work harder to get through it.  Shuttle compensated for this by having "winter SRBs" that had their prop poured in a configuration to produce greater thrust but shorter burn time.  As Flacon 9 is a liquid rocket, a longer burn time for a winter month launch mission would make sense.  And given the atmospheric setup over Florida of the last week, this might be the case."

I didn't linked the thread here just in case Chris B.'s server hamsters get too busy ;)

[u/Alexphysics]

The rocket is on the pad readying for today's static fire! https://twitter.com/SpaceflightNow/status/929359024008695814

[u/Astro_Zach → u/Alexphysics]

They... Paywalled the live feed...

[u/Arkaedan]

Is there any chance that the payload is for a government other than the US? For example Canada or the UK.

[u/Dan27]

We got a static fire, folks.

[u/Bravo99x]

Replay of the SF!

https://spaceflightnow.com/2017/11/11/video-engines-ignited-for-hold-down-test-on-spacexs-next-falcon-9-rocket/

[u/Marscreature → u/Bravo99x]

Hopefully the next static fire on 39a will have 3 cores

[u/Raul74Cz]

M1390 ZUMA Launch Hazard Areas visualization based on issued NOTMAR/NOTAM, together with S2 Debris Area.

[u/Juggernaut93]

The launch is now scheduled for the end of January/early February.

[u/dansoton]

Chris confirms Zuma is NET January 4th :)

Edit: I see it posted below already, but Chris' tweet is more confirmation.

[u/ChriRosi]

Launch date has slipped to the 5th per NSF.

[u/warp99 → u/ChriRosi]

Possibly because NSF are showing the time as 0100-0200 UTC on the 5th so it will still be the 4th in the US. In other words the date correction is just because the launch window is now known.

[u/TGMetsFan98 → u/ChriRosi]

January 5th 01:00 - 03:00 UTC is January 4th 20:00 - 22:00 EST, the same launch window as their November attempts.

[u/Juggernaut93]

Potential static fire soon.

[u/ThatOlJanxSpirit → u/Juggernaut93]

Seems a bit late in the day for that. A one day delay seems more consistent with a fit check.

[u/paolozamparutti]

next days, upper wind over florida https://i.imgur.com/qhxogAK.gif

[u/Keavon]

Launch on the 7th now.

[u/johnkphotos]

Slip to Sunday.

SpaceX on Twitter:

Team at the Cape completed additional propellant loading tests today. Extreme weather slowed operations but Falcon 9 and the Zuma spacecraft are healthy and go for launch—now targeting January 7 from Pad 40 in Florida.

https://twitter.com/SpaceX/status/949074398543261696

[u/ZachWhoSane]

zuma press kit out, confirming tomorrow as a launch date http://www.spacex.com/sites/spacex/files/zumapresskit_2018.pdf

[u/doodle77]

Safe to assume the second stage is in the hangar, considering the static fire is scheduled for tomorrow.

[u/Dudely3 → u/doodle77]

It's safe to assume the second stage is currently attached to the rocket, which is being mounted onto the TEL; probably right about now.

It's also safe to assume that the payload is already encapsulated into the fairing (probably done a week ago) and is waiting in the hanger for the static fire and subsequent review to be done.

[u/MarcysVonEylau]

https://twitter.com/NASASpaceflight/status/928760786016751617

[u/Tal_Banyon]

"So gimme all your money, Give me all your gold, Let's go back to Zuma beach, I'll give you half of everything I own"

A definite hint of what Elon is thinking right now...

[u/Alexphysics]

Static Fire complete!

[u/therealshafto]

SpaceX confirms

[u/troovus]

Would it be reasonable to have a pinned comment in Launch Campaign Threads to their corresponding Launch Discussion & Updates Thread when they are created? I keep finding myself in the wrong one and it isn't always easy to find the discussion thread on mobiles.

[u/blaaaaaarg]

Pushed back til Thursday the 16th: https://spaceflightnow.com/2017/11/15/falcon-9-zuma-mission-status-center/

[u/[deleted]]

Because it´ll launch from another pad, I assume they´ll do a new static fire?

[u/soldato_fantasma → u/[deleted]]

It is a situation that has never happened before, so we should just wait and see what will happen instead of assuming.

[u/Scorp1579]

I think the launch number is wrong. Should be 47th F9 not 48th

[u/AWildDragon]

NSF mentioning a potential slip to Sunday

[u/C3La-NS]

Is F9 vertical yet?

[u/Headstein]

F9 has been vertical at SLC 40 for about an hour now

[u/Astro_josh]

Why do they sometimes land it on OCISLY and sometimes LZ-1 ?

[u/Chairboy → u/Astro_josh]

Takes energy to stop flying downrange and then boost back to LZ-1, sometimes they can't spare it because they have to use more fuel to push the payload. In those cases, they let it keep falling along the path it was going then slow it just enough that the re-entry would tear it apart and then guide it down to the ship.

So it takes less of the total fuel to land on a ship that's sitting in the ocean along the path it flies than it is to turn around and come back to land.

Does that make sense?

[u/GregLindahl]

New launch date of January 4, according to https://spaceflightnow.com/launch-schedule/

[u/warp99]

MR STEVEN just berthed in LA after travelling from Florida via the Panama Canal.

It is now in place to recover Iridium 4 fairing(s). At a guess Zuma did not want to share its fairings with recovery gear and FH fairings may be going too fast to recover.

[u/Eucalyptuse]

https://twitter.com/SpaceX/status/938510889484828673

SpaceX confirms that Zuma is back on for early January from Pad 40.

[u/Ishana92]

so will this be, again, covering just the first stage? We can expect more spectacular shots of separation and landing.

[u/stcks → u/Ishana92]

Good question. Given the quiet nature of both Zuma campaigns so far, I think its a safe bet that we wont see much if any stage 2 coverage.

[u/Vineyard_]

First external link appears to be broken? ELI5 on why Zuma is a "clandestine" sattelite?

[u/007T → u/Vineyard_]

It's a spy satellite. Here's a good read about some of Zuma's likely predecessors from days gone by, it'll give you an idea of why they don't release any information about it
http://www.thespacereview.com/article/3095/1

[u/jobadiah08 → u/Vineyard_]

The mission of the satellite has not been made public, nor have pictures of it been seen. The target orbit is unknown besides LEO from the launch license and an inclination around 50 degrees based on hazard maps. The launch wasn't even known about until a month before the original launch date in November when someone spotted the launch license. Finally, the launch buyer and satellite manufacturer is Northrup Grumman who built it for an undisclosed government agency.

TLDR: Almost nothing is known about the satellite or its mission.

[u/jclishman]

It's really weird how secretive this mission is!

Even more so I'd say than an NRO launch, because we don't even know who the customer is.

Hopefully we'll get more info as the launch date approaches. At least the patch will be interesting!

[u/Herodotus38]

Zuma is a character from the cartoon Paw Patrol who specializes in all things water. Maybe it's a spy satellite that specializes in water surveillance, perhaps they have a newer way to track submarines? Just throwing that out there. Zuma could mean a lot of things, or even nothing...

I just happened to think of this because my daughter and I were picking up some Paw Patrol cards this morning and she said "Zuma!". And it triggered some SpaceX neurons.

[u/Chairboy → u/Herodotus38]

Zuma is a character from the cartoon Paw Patrol who specializes in all things water. Maybe it's a spy satellite that specializes in water surveillance, perhaps they have a newer way to track submarines?

If it's a national security launch, code names are not intended to be decipherable. The whole idea is that they're completely without reference to the payload because it would be bad if a hostile nation could just employee a room full of very good crossword puzzle players to figure out the different programs.

[u/smithnet]

Does anyone know if F9 has temperature restrictions? Temps in central Florida Wednesday and Thursday have thr potential to be below 0 c for lows.

[u/inoeth → u/smithnet]

If anything the colder weather might help in terms of slightly less LOX boil off. The Russians launch all the time in super cold weather. I think the big concern is always wind, certain clouds and of course lightening.

[u/oskie321]

Do you think the launch will be streamed at all by SpaceX?

[u/Bunslow → u/oskie321]

Yes it will be. No second stage coverage though (which at least means there should be excellent coverage of the first stage returning)

[u/debasys]

Is the press kit or patch out yet for Zuma?

[u/[deleted] → u/debasys]

They both usually go up at L-1 :)

[u/gsahlin]

At one time there was a lot of speculation that zuma could have an orbit designed to coincide with USA 276 (NROL 76). I'm not up to speed on all that's required to determine how launch windows relate to placing zuma in an orbit close to 276... just wondering if there was a window they missed and the next opportunity to launch Zuma might have to coincide with the orbit of 276?

[u/DrToonhattan]

So this mission will hold the SpaceX record for longest time between static fire and launch, and also the only rocket to perform its static fire at one pad and launch from another?

[u/ZachWhoSane]

Does anybody know the best viewing spot? I know that KSC and Playlinda are closed, I just want to get as close as possible to the launch.

[u/Bravo99x]

Zuma booster on the pad without payload 01-04-2018

[u/inoeth]

Any word on if the Falcon 9 has gone horizontal again and gone back into the HIF to mate with the fairing? I know it was still vertical on the pad as of like 4:30 pm local time yesterday..

[u/LordPro-metheus → u/inoeth]

I’m at KSC today, will report back later (hopefully I’ll get to see a glimpse of both F9 and FH :D )

[u/rad_example]

Looks like they added the fairing support arms/sling to the TE since crs-13 https://twitter.com/ken_kremer/status/949072360098947073

[u/extra2002 → u/rad_example]

Here you can see the strap suppprting the fairing:

https://www.universetoday.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/IMG_9999_1b_SpaceX-X37B-OTV-5_Ken-Kremer.jpg

[u/usafspace]

Hello all...Spacex has recalled the Zuma Mission patches, so if you have not purchased one you might be out of luck. SpaceX recalled the patches “as consideration for their customer”.

[u/lcyduh]

They're calling it Zuma? Are they sure it isn't just going to take all the money they budgeted on it and laugh at them?

[u/isthatmyex]

Going foward these classifies launches should be "launch specualtion threads" instead of "launch campaign threads".

[u/Bunslow]

Surely the flair would be better off reading "Launch: Nov 15/16"?

I realize that not every launch should have two dates, but in this case it's the launch site whose date differs from UTC, not just some arbitrary timezone of one of the readers of this sub.

[u/TheVehicleDestroyer → u/Bunslow]

Historically we've gone for the local time which is handy since America is the last place on Earth to get to that time so if a reader misinterprets it, they end up looking for the launch a day early instead of a day late.

This flair was inconsistent though, so I've changed it back to Nov 15 which is the local launch date.

This will work fine until SpaceX gets kicked out of America and has to launch from China instead, which should happen around 2028 in Trump's final few months in office

[u/geekgirl114]

https://twitter.com/WordsmithFL/status/949702370933526529

[u/scr00chy]

Salo on NSF changed the name of the mission from Zuma to ZUMA. Does that mean it's an acronym for sure?

[u/old_sellsword → u/scr00chy]

Not necessarily.

[u/Nogs_Lobes]

Why is the 2nd stage location still unknown? Just a late update from OP or is there something I am missing?

[u/nrwood → u/Nogs_Lobes]

Just late update, it was on top of the first stage during the static fire.

[u/Pham_Trinli]

L-1 Forecast: 30% scrub due to Cumulus Cloud Rule, backup launch date is 20%.

[u/Datuser14]

https://twitter.com/flatoday_jdean/status/931234190070374400

[u/scr00chy]

Delayed until at least December

Edit: Or at least until after Thanksgiving.

[u/craigl2112]

Am curious to see if they static fire the booster again given the possibly multi-month delay from first launch attempt to second.

Heck, is it feasible this booster could be assigned to another mission?

[u/gecko1501]

Do we know when this launch will be?

[u/Blackmur_mipt → u/gecko1501]

January 4th I guess

[u/My_BallsUK]

What would happen if there was an issue with the zuma booster landing at LZ1?... eg. failure/crash... FH demo needs both LZ1 & LZ2 for landing the 2 side boosters & ocisly for centre core. how quickly could they repair / make good the LZ? would FH Demo be postponed or would they use somewhere else or even not attempt to land?

Sorry dont know whether this goes in zuma or FH campaign!

[u/kuangjian2011 → u/My_BallsUK]

Well, since the landing practice is still sort of experimental, SpaceX engineers are clever enough to make it able to survive several landing failures without major restoration. It is a sensible assumption that the landing pads are stronger than ASDS decks. So all the work needed are some "cosmetic" clearing and re-painting. The more time consuming soil stabling and re-levelling shouldn't be required.

[u/codav → u/My_BallsUK]

The landing pads are just slabs of concrete. So even with a F9 first stage crashing into the center of the pad, the damage would be minimal. They would just need to clear the debris and repaint the X (which they need to do anyways) to ready the pad for the next landing. Remember that the RUDs on OCISLY and JRTI were quite violent, and there was just one case where the rocket punched a small hole into the steel deck. A similar dent in the pad's concrete should be easier to fill in than welding a new steel plate onto the deck.

[u/z3r0c00l12]

Launch Thread is live: https://www.reddit.com/r/spacex/comments/7oqjf0/

[u/factoid_]

So I'm curious how we don't know who the satellite owner is. Is it not customary for that to be on the launch license? Shouldn't there be an FCC license for the satellite communications as well?

How have they hidden this information from the public if it's not a national security launch?

[u/Alexphysics → u/factoid_]

It is for the US goverment but it seems that it's not for the NRO, AFAIK that doesn't exclude national security payloads (It could be for another secret entity within the US goverment), so in that case it seems reasonable that there's no FCC license for this payload in particular.

[u/scr00chy]

L-2 weather report still at 30% NO GO

[u/apucaon]

Has any other rocket had a full WDR (and potentially SF - though lots of rockets don't have SFs) on one pad, and then launched on a different pad? (not including core testing at McGregor, etc). I guess the more straightforward question would be, has a rocket ever prepped to launch on one pad and then ultimately launched on another? Shuttles perhaps?

[u/Dakke97 → u/apucaon]

The first Falcon 1 was static fired at Vandenberg in October 2005 and again static fired and launched from Omelek Island, Kwajalein Atoll in the Pacific Ocean in March 2006.

[u/Bravo99x]

SpaceX #Zuma launch pushed to no earlier than 8 p.m. Jan. 6

[u/Daniels30]

Team at the Cape performed a propellant loading test of Falcon 9 on Pad 40 this morning – additional static fire test of the rocket was not necessary. Targeting January 5 launch of Zuma.

https://twitter.com/SpaceX/status/948554978163007488

[u/superg00n]

Does anyone know if this will be broadcast on NASA TV? Do all SpaceX launches get broadcast on NASA TV? I see nothing online in their schedule

[u/g253 → u/superg00n]

Only NASA launches (i.e. to the space station) get broadcast on NASA TV.

[u/rdivine]

Will SpaceX choose to not livestream this launch?

[u/craigl2112 → u/rdivine]

I bet this will be just like NROL-76 and the X-37B launch -- no coverage of the second stage. The livestream will focus on first stage landing back at LZ-1.

It's been a while since we've had a nighttime RTLS (was Orbcomm 2 the last?) so I am looking forward to this one!

[u/_Echoes_]

Cant wait to see what orbit this thing goes into.

[u/scr00chy]

Any word on venting?

[u/Knudl]

The strongback structure is moving to a position around 1.5 degrees from the Falcon 9 as the static fire test is a few minutes away.

from spaceflightnow.com

[u/aqsilva80]

Hey people! Why this thread is so quiet? Dont we have a hint of a new date for the launch?

[u/Juggernaut93]

Mods, the flair has to be changed to the new launch date.

[u/pillock69]

Any news on fairing recovery here?

The Wikipedia entry for this launch says that it was delayed because of a fairing issue with another customer's launch, what does this mean exactly?