Elon Musk’s SpaceX launched a secret satellite for a US government agency that develops and maintains spy satellites. Neither the National Reconnaissance Office (NRO) which owns the satellite nor SpaceX shared any details of the satellite being launched with the public in line with their mode of operation. This means we can’t answer questions like to where the satellite was being delivered to nor the size.
The delivery which was supposed to have happened on Sunday was delayed due to a sensor problem at the bottom of the rocket. While SpaceX usually broadcasts live such launches, this time was different as they cut off feed seven minutes after the first-stage booster separated from the upper stage of the rocket which is about seven minutes into liftoff.
The first stage booster separated from the upper stage so that it can safely land back on earth (Kennedy Space Center) to be reused and this is the overall aim of SpaceX to reduce the cost of rocket launches in future.
SpaceX had largely demonstrated this last month when it launched the SES-10 communications satellite from the Pad 39A at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida, marking the first time of successfully reusing a rocket.
The NRO is an agency that monitors the activities of terrorists and rogue states across the globe using satellite technology so you can understand the secrecy involved in this launch.
Paul Balo is the founder of TechBooky and a highly skilled wireless communications professional with a strong background in cloud computing, offering extensive experience in designing, implementing, and managing wireless communication systems.
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