The secondary cargo from the recent Falcon 9 remained undisclosed until US military published orbital data from the launch, where the second object suddenly appeared. A company, related to the launch, claims the cargo is for a R and D mission.
The celebratory 50th launch of SpaceX's Falcon 9 rocket was supposed to be a regular satellite delivery for Hispasat, a Spanish-language communications operator. However, the orbital data, published by the US military shows that a secondary payload, named PODSat, separated from the Hispasat 30W-6 satellite, when the latter reached orbit. The niche web portal Spaceflightnow.com reports officials from Space Systems/Loral (SSL) and NovaWurks, two companies involved in the launch, have confirmed the existence of the secret secondary satellite.
According to Wendy Lewis, a spokesperson for SSL, such "rideshare commitments" are increasingly becoming more common, as they help greatly reduce satellite deployment costs. She noted that a new innovative secondary cargo release system was tested during this launch.
Lewis added that secondary payload has an "R and D [Research and Development] mission," but refused to give any more details on the matter. James Greer, chief operating officer at NovaWurks, also refused to elaborate on the secondary satellite's mission, noting that he couldn't do it as it was a "DARPA [US Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency] project."
NovaWurks, using the DARPA funding, developed a Hyper-Integrated Satlet, or HISat, architecture, which can be used to reduce satellite construction and deployment costs. SSL in its turn developed a Payload Orbital Delivery System, or PODS, a mechanism installed inside the Hispasat 30W-6 that was used to release the secondary satellite, once primary payload reached its orbit.
Source: Sputnik News
Related Links
SpaceX
Rocket Science News at Space-Travel.Com
| Thanks for being here; We need your help. The SpaceDaily news network continues to grow but revenues have never been harder to maintain. With the rise of Ad Blockers, and Facebook - our traditional revenue sources via quality network advertising continues to decline. And unlike so many other news sites, we don't have a paywall - with those annoying usernames and passwords. Our news coverage takes time and effort to publish 365 days a year. If you find our news sites informative and useful then please consider becoming a regular supporter or for now make a one off contribution.</span> |
||
| SpaceDaily Contributor $5 Billed Oncecredit card or paypal |
 |
SpaceDaily Monthly Supporter $5 Billed Monthlypaypal only |
SpaceX carries out 50th launch of Falcon 9 rocket
Miami (AFP) March 6, 2018
SpaceX carried out the 50th launch of its signature Falcon 9 rocket early Tuesday, a swift ascent to a milestone which many aerospace giants take far longer to attain. The launch of the Falcon 9 carrying a Hispasat Spanish-language telecommunications and broadband satellite took place on schedule at 12:33 am (0533 GMT) from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida. About 33 minutes into the flight, the satellite was deployed into geo-stationary orbit, SpaceX said in a webcast. The satelli ... read more
from Military Space News, Nuclear Weapons, Missile Defense http://ift.tt/2FYjMsB
via space News
No comments: