First mission of year for SpaceX a government launch

Zuma payload set to take off Saturday

A launch this week of a closely guarded payload by SpaceX will mark the first 2018 mission for the Elon Musk-led space company, as well as its return to military defense contracts.

Space industry experts say the company’s expected launch of the so-called Zuma payload marks the start of what should be a busy year for SpaceX, which also plans a long-awaited test launch of its behemoth Falcon Heavy rocket this month.

“It’s going to be a busy year and, I think, another transformative year for them,” Space Florida President and CEO Frank DiBello said. “They continue to learn as they go and make adjustments to their overall transportation system.”

A two-hour window for SpaceX’s Falcon 9 rocket to carry Zuma into space is scheduled for Saturday. Few details have been disclosed about Zuma, although Northrop Grumman has been publicly identified as the company that arranged for the launch on behalf of the U.S. government.

Once Zuma is delivered into space, the Falcon 9’s first stage will try to land on Landing Zone 1 at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station. That will likely set off a sonic boom in the region.

Before a May 1 launch of a National Reconnaissance Office satellite, government satellites were almost exclusively sent into space aboard rockets built by United Launch Alliance, a Boeing-Lockheed Martin joint venture.

John Logsdon, professor emeritus at George Washington University’s Space Policy Institute and a 47-year space industry veteran, said the National Reconnaissance Office’s decision to take a chance on SpaceX helped boost the company’s profile.

“The NRO made up its mind that SpaceX was OK to launch payloads,” he said. “That should send shivers down the spine of ULA right now. They are penetrating what had been an exclusive monopoly.”

Efforts to launch the Zuma payload have been delayed multiple

times.

The mission was first added to SpaceX’s manifest in October, with an initial launch slated for mid-November.

However, the launch was pushed into the new year.

A Twitter post Wednesday morning indicated that SpaceX planned to carry out the launch Friday. That has now changed to Saturday.

“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,”

“It’s going to be a busy year and, I think, another transformative year for them. They continue to learn as they go and make adjustments to their overall transportation system.” Frank DiBellom, Space Florida President and CEO

the post read.

SpaceX efforts to continue to refine its systems could help it land more government deals, which would mean more launches this year than last, said DiBello, who estimates that Central Florida could host as many as 40 launches this year.

“They are stabilizing a transportation system that is increasingly reliable,” he said. “To the degree they can continue on that path, they should be able to significantly increase their launch cadence.”