SpaceX News: Mysterious Zuma Mission Scheduled for November
A secretive mission with the code name "Zuma" has been added to the commercial launch provider's busy schedule this 2017. Meanwhile, this undisclosed mission is also anticipated to have a mystery payload.
"Zuma" has been scheduled to launch after Nov. 10 from LC39A at the Kennedy Space Center, NASA Spaceflight confirmed.
The mission has a Federal Communications Commission (FCC) launch license which identifies it as Mission 1390, which will release a Falcon 9 rocket launch from its departure point at the Kennedy Space Center, before Return to Launch Site (RTLS) at LZ-1 at Cape Canaveral.
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"Zuma" is the last flight that will commence from the Pad 39A before it undergoes final configurations in preparation for the launch of Falcon Heavy, scheduled to depart no earlier than (NET) December this year.
This secretive mission is anticipated to use a Falcon 9 core B1043, a brand new core that was meant to be used for the CRS-13/Dragon mission.
There are speculations that "Zuma" caters to the United States government or military forces because of how it was kept secret. However, there have been indications from the industry that it is actually a "black commercial" launch.
Meanwhile, "Zuma" is also expected to carry a mysterious payload, Spaceflight Now reports.
The unidentified payload has not been claimed by the government nor any commercial institution. It is deemed uncommon for missions to remain confidential to the public when the launch date is significantly near.
However, SpaceX has not given any announcements regarding the mysterious flight and its payload, but basic details about the mission can be found in the FCC database.
Presumably, SpaceX has already applied for special authority from the FCC to use telemetry transmitters and receivers to keep track of the Falcon 9 flight, which means there is a record of which customer this flight serves.
"Zuma" can launch as early as Nov. 10.
