A secret mission to launch Zuma into Space was cancelled yesterday due to bad weather, but rest assured, it will go ahead today.
While most South African’s would pay good money for a front row seat, Zuma is actually a top-secret US government rocket.
According to Spaceflight Now, Arms company Northrop Grumman acquired the services of South African-born Elon Musk’s company SpaceX for the US government.
The website said, that a payload developed in secrecy for the US government, is set to ride into orbit from Florida’s Space Coast aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket yesterday, but due to bad weather was re-routed for today.
The project is known only by the codename Zuma and is likely heading for an orbit less than 1,000 miles in altitude, and perhaps much lower.
Officials did not divulge whether it’s a military or civilian project.
Zuma could be a surveillance mission, a spy satellite, an experimental tech demo, or something else, said Spaceflight Now.
Falcon 9 and Zuma went vertical last night on Pad 39A. Now targeting November 16 for launch — rocket and payload remain healthy, and the teams will use the extra day to conduct additional mission assurance work. pic.twitter.com/EHHq2rMZ4g
— SpaceX (@SpaceX) November 15, 2017
Photography: Facebook