Posted on 01/03/2018 2:37:10 PM PST by Red Badger
SPACEX are to launch a top-secret satellite codenamed project Zuma this Friday, the US Air Force confirmed.
The mysterious project will see the private space agency launch the satellite allowing an unnamed government organisation to send messages or take photos.
One of the few scraps of information currently available has revealed Zuma will enter into a low orbit around Earth.
What the orbiter's mission is and who will be operating it is unknown with US authorities so far refusing the release any more information.
The satellite will be launch on SpaceXs Falcon 9 rocket from the Kennedy Space Centre in Florida.
The launch was first pencilled in for the middle of November but was eventually pushed back so SpaceX could analyse their data for a previous launch
As one Falcon 9 will leave as another returns with a rocket also landing on Friday.
SpaceX will launch the mission from the Kennedy Space Centre between 8.00pm and 10.00pm.
Elon Musks firm has carried out government missions before but never as secretive.
News of the mysterious satellite comes after SpaceX programme was revealed to be planning to send a Telsa to Mars.
The car will reportedly be playing Davids Bowie's Space Oddity on a loop.
The billionaire businessman took to social media to announce that he will send a Tesla car to Mars.
Mr Musk announced on Twitter that he will be sending a cherry Tesla Roadster to orbit Mars, playing David Bowies Space Oddity on repeat and that it would be in deep space for a billion years or so if it doesnt blow up on the ascent.
However, he later back-pedalled on this statement by saying that he was not sure if SpaceXs Falcon Heavy rocket craft would carry the electric vehicle to the Red Planet.
But now the South African born American has now left no doubt in anyones mind that SpaceX will be sending a car to Mars after he posted a series of pictures on Instagram of the red Tesla Roadster inside the Falcon Heavy.
Alongside the images, Mr Musk put: "Test flights of new rockets usually contain mass simulators in the form of concrete or steel blocks.
"That seemed extremely boring. Of course, anything boring is terrible, especially companies, so we decided to send something unusual, something that made us feel.
"The payload will be an original Tesla Roadster, playing Space Oddity, on a billion-year elliptic Mars orbit."
Sending the Norks some nice music or propaganda?
Ooops !
"It's... It's... SEXUAL HARASSMENT!"
“The payload will be an original Tesla Roadster, playing Space Oddity, on a billion-year elliptic Mars orbit.”
This is a joke, right?
No. Not a joke. It’s his rocket; he can put whatever dummy payload on it he wants.
The broadcasts will be monitored by Nellie O.
>>The payload will be an original Tesla Roadster, playing Space Oddity, on a billion-year elliptic Mars orbit.<<
So now we GOAD the Martians into attacking us?
“Space Oddity” is a great song — a Rock ‘n Roll classic. But on an endless loop? That could cause some real damage!
I thought it as supposed to be “Stairway to Heaven” still playing on the 8-track.
IBTF”IA”
In Before The First “It’s Aliens”
Dammit, beat me to it.
The message was specific and explicit. It was generated in the direction of the planet Xenu directing them to quit sending Scientologists to our planet.
Better than some Slim Whitman tunes.
Not a joke, but absolutely stupid.
I did some research — If it’s a joke, it’s one with some significant effort / expense behind it.
Still, and even though that is a risky test flight, you’d think someone would jump at the chance to get a “real” payload sent up for free with SpaceX stated to be legally at no obligation, instead of a “dummy” mass, or even an old Roadster.
No. Not a joke. Its his rocket; he can put whatever dummy payload on it he wants.
...
Yep, and the free publicity he gets for his companies will probably pay for the launch many times over. It’s a stunt worthy of Trump.
Yeah, c’mon Elon, send up a player with a 32 GB SD card of “space” and “car” tunes in a HI-FI format. You can still lead off with “Space Oddity”. :-)
Good point!
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.