Top secret Zuma satellite really DID fall into the Pacific after SpaceX launch?

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-fWo0Raxc5Ks85uCMxe4BVbw-AuYYwO1pEIVgs9BzGSB2ja46bu_GBmpV3tOBluLgwvZn_KE7pfs7C79hbe6df0H0heqtcUMbJY3LbwKE8zmPFtjUkMDg5y8NRFfeMiZMhP05vr-aqqQ/s1600/SpaceX+Falcon+9+rocket+launches+from+Cape+Canaveral++seen+from+the+Ocean+Club+Marina+in+Port+Canaveral.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="647" data-original-width="962" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-fWo0Raxc5Ks85uCMxe4BVbw-AuYYwO1pEIVgs9BzGSB2ja46bu_GBmpV3tOBluLgwvZn_KE7pfs7C79hbe6df0H0heqtcUMbJY3LbwKE8zmPFtjUkMDg5y8NRFfeMiZMhP05vr-aqqQ/s1600/SpaceX+Falcon+9+rocket+launches+from+Cape+Canaveral++seen+from+the+Ocean+Club+Marina+in+Port+Canaveral.jpg" /></a></div> A top secret billion-dollar spy satellite plummeted into the Indian Ocean after a botched SpaceX mission over the weekend, but Elon Musk's company has insisted they are not to blame. In this image made with an 8-minute long exposure, the SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket launches from Cape Canaveral and lands as seen from from the Ocean Club Marina in Port Canaveral.<br /> <br /> <div class="mol-para-with-font"> The mystery surrounding the fate of a secret military satellite deepened today when the Pentagon refused to answer even simple questions about whether the mission to launch it had gone awry.</div> <div class="mol-para-with-font"> On Sunday, private space firm SpaceX blasted a Falcon 9 rocket from Cape Canaveral, Florida carrying the secret government satellite, known as Zuma.</div> <div class="mol-para-with-font"> US media this week reported that the billion-dollar payload did not make it into orbit and was presumed to have been lost.</div> <div class="mol-para-with-font"> SpaceX said Tuesday that the rocket worked fine, but its statement left open the possibility that something could have gone wrong after the launch.</div> <div class="mol-para-with-font"> </div> <div class="mol-img-group xwArtSplitter"> <div class="mol-img" style="position: relative;"> <div class="image-wrap fff-pic" style="cursor: pointer;"> <div class="overlay-icon mobile-gallery"> </div> </div> <div class="imageCaption" id="ext-gen118"> </div> <div class="imageCaption" id="ext-gen118"> <br /></div> </div> <div class="mol-para-with-font"> When asked at a press briefing if the Pentagon considered the launch a success or a failure, two officials declined to provide any information whatsoever because of the classified nature of the mission.</div> <div class="mol-para-with-font"> 'I would have to refer you to SpaceX, who conducted the launch,' Pentagon spokeswoman Dana White said.</div> <div class="mol-para-with-font"> When pushed on the matter, fellow spokesman Lieutenant General Kenneth McKenzie said: 'I'm done. We're not going to be able to give you any more information.'</div> <div class="mol-para-with-font"> Northrup Grumman, the maker of the payload, has said it was for the US government and would be delivered to low-Earth orbit, but offered no other details.</div> <div class="mol-para-with-font"> SpaceX has launched national security payloads in the past, including a spy satellite for the National Reconnaissance Office, and an X-37B space plane for the US Air Force.</div> <div class="mol-para-with-font" id="ext-gen121"> The satellite, codenamed Zuma, launched from the Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida Sunday night, but it reportedly failed to remain in orbit, officials said Wednesday. </div> <br /> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjf-FukiBiWMpxWcHV5RVmX90YwPHsAU2FWM0rE6A1ANgwx759Pal8uPxmQw6_4mSrahgX1BIxA2hT4JVHxPieZUccICW7yQPSUI5k8ckNsrV8EwYbjbuA2UUbfz7WZKQgZ2AedaOCzKm8/s1600/DTGidioW0AU6I-8.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="231" data-original-width="330" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjf-FukiBiWMpxWcHV5RVmX90YwPHsAU2FWM0rE6A1ANgwx759Pal8uPxmQw6_4mSrahgX1BIxA2hT4JVHxPieZUccICW7yQPSUI5k8ckNsrV8EwYbjbuA2UUbfz7WZKQgZ2AedaOCzKm8/s1600/DTGidioW0AU6I-8.jpg" /></a></div> <br /> <br /> <div class="mol-para-with-font"> The classified intelligence satellite, built by Northrop Grumman Corp, failed to separate from the second stage of the Falcon 9 rocket and is assumed to have broken up or plunged into the sea, said two officials, who spoke to Reuters on condition of anonymity.</div> <div class="mol-para-with-font"> The satellite is assumed to be 'a write-off,' one of the officials said.</div> <div class="mol-para-with-font"> The presumed loss of the satellite was first reported by the Wall Street Journal.</div> <div class="mol-para-with-font"> Northrop Grumman built the multibillion-dollar satellite, code-named Zuma, and was responsible for choosing the SpaceX Falcon 9 launch vehicle, both officials said.</div> <div class="mol-para-with-font"> An investigation is under way, but there is no initial indication of sabotage or other interference, they said. </div> <div class="mol-para-with-font"> Lawmakers and congressional staffers from the Senate and the House have been briefed about the botched mission, some of the officials told <a class="" href="https://www.wsj.com/articles/u-s-spy-satellite-believed-lost-after-spacex-mission-fails-1515462479?mod=e2tw#_=_" rel="nofollow" style="font-weight: bold;" target="_blank">the </a>Wall Street Journal. </div> <div class="mol-para-with-font"> It claims the payload was 'an expensive, highly classified U.S. spy satellite.' </div> <div class="mol-para-with-font"> SpaceX's president Gwynne Shotwell defended the company's rocket performance launch of Zuma, saying that the Falcon 9 rocket 'did everything correctly' and suggestions otherwise are 'categorically false'.</div> <div class="mol-para-with-font"> <br /></div> <div class="mol-img-group xwArtSplitter"> <div class="mol-img" style="position: relative;"> <div class="image-wrap fff-pic" style="cursor: pointer;"> <img alt="The satellite, codenamed Zuma, launched from the Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida Sunday night, but it failed to remain in orbit" class="blkBorder img-share b-loaded" height="641" id="i-12c6da3221b8ee66" src="http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2018/01/10/16/47F329D100000578-0-image-a-2_1515601585293.jpg" width="962" /><br /> <div class="overlay-icon mobile-gallery"> </div> </div> </div> <div class="imageCaption"> The satellite, codenamed Zuma, launched from the Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida Sunday night, but it failed to remain in orbit</div> <div class="imageCaption"> <br /></div> </div> <div class="mol-para-with-font"> Northrop Grumman — which provided the satellite for an undisclosed US government entity — said it cannot comment on classified missions. </div> <div class="mol-para-with-font"> The company chose SpaceX as the launch provider, noting late last year that it took 'great care to ensure the most affordable and lowest risk scenario for Zuma'.</div> <div class="mol-para-with-font"> The name refers to a Malibu beach in Southern California. This was SpaceX' s third classified mission for the US government, a lucrative customer. </div> <div class="mol-para-with-font"> It was so shrouded in secrecy that the sponsoring government agency was not even identified, as is usually the case.</div> <div class="mol-para-with-font"> <br /></div> <div class="mol-img-group xwArtSplitter"> <div class="mol-img" style="position: relative;"> <div class="image-wrap fff-pic" style="cursor: pointer;"> <img alt="SpaceX's president Gwynne Shotwell defended the company's rocket performance launch of Zuma, saying that the Falcon 9 rocket 'did everything correctly' and suggestions otherwise are 'categorically false'. This photo shows the launch of the Falcon 9 on Sunday " class="blkBorder img-share b-loaded" height="641" id="i-45d9c5feee3eb5b" src="http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2018/01/10/16/47F329AB00000578-0-image-a-6_1515601597158.jpg" width="962" /><br /> <div class="overlay-icon mobile-gallery"> </div> </div> </div> <div class="imageCaption"> SpaceX's president Gwynne Shotwell defended the company's rocket performance launch of Zuma, saying that the Falcon 9 rocket 'did everything correctly' and suggestions otherwise are 'categorically false'. This photo shows the launch of the Falcon 9 on Sunday </div> <div class="imageCaption"> </div> </div> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"> <div dir="ltr" lang="en"> Rumors are that a classified SpaceX mission code-named "Zuma" failed to deploy in orbit and is now lost. What happened? <a href="https://t.co/IrYooWBumP">https://t.co/IrYooWBumP</a></div> — The New York Times (@nytimes) <a href="https://twitter.com/nytimes/status/951049495990616065?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 10, 2018</a></blockquote> <script async="" charset="utf-8" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script> <blockquote class="twitter-video" data-lang="en"> <div dir="ltr" lang="en"> A secret U.S. spy satellite may be a total loss after reports that it failed to reach orbit. The Space X rocket carrying the mysterious rocket Zuma blasted off Sunday and Reuters reports the multi-billion dollar rocket failed to separate from the Falcon 9 <a href="https://t.co/rzV7ChVVW8">https://t.co/rzV7ChVVW8</a> <a href="https://t.co/Mm2wBG4zkQ">pic.twitter.com/Mm2wBG4zkQ</a></div> — CBS News (@CBSNews) <a href="https://twitter.com/CBSNews/status/950707087620935680?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 9, 2018</a></blockquote> <script async="" charset="utf-8" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script> <div class="mol-para-with-font"> The Falcon's first stage completed its job, lifting the rocket off the pad and toward space, then separated and landed back at Cape Canaveral. </div> <div class="mol-para-with-font"> But second-stage information was kept to a minimum because of all the secrecy surrounding the flight. </div> <div class="mol-para-with-font"> The rocket's second stage propels the satellite into orbit; however, an official confirmed to <a class="" href="http://abcnews.go.com/US/classified-satellite-fell-ocean-spacex-launch-official-confirms/story?id=52246100" rel="nofollow" style="font-weight: bold;" target="_blank">ABC News</a> that the satellite was unable to stay in orbit. </div> <div class="mol-para-with-font" id="ext-gen119"> The Wall Street Journal quoted unidentified congressional officials who were briefed on the mission as saying the satellite apparently did not separate from the second stage, and plunged through the atmosphere and burned up.</div> <div class="mol-para-with-font" id="ext-gen120"> Originally scheduled for a November launch, Zuma was delayed by potential concern about another mission's payload fairing, the shell on top that protects a satellite during launch. The company later said it had cleared the issue.</div> <div class="mol-para-with-font"> Shotwell said in a statement that since no rocket changes are warranted for upcoming flights, the company's launch schedule remains on track. </div> <div class="mol-para-with-font"> If additional reviews uncover any problems, she said, 'we will report it immediately'.</div> <div class="mol-para-with-font"> <br /></div> <div class="mol-img-group xwArtSplitter"> <div class="mol-img" style="position: relative;"> <div class="image-wrap fff-pic" style="cursor: pointer;"> <img alt="On Sunday, SpaceX launched a secret satellite codenamed Zuma on its first flight of the new year" class="blkBorder img-share b-loaded" height="716" id="i-cc9457a183bf53e5" src="http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2018/01/08/06/47DFECB900000578-5245575-image-a-9_1515392849097.jpg" width="962" /><br /> <div class="overlay-icon mobile-gallery"> </div> </div> </div> <div class="imageCaption"> On Sunday, SpaceX launched a secret satellite codenamed Zuma on its first flight of the new year</div> <div class="imageCaption"> <br /></div> </div> <div class="mol-img-group xwArtSplitter"> <div class="mol-img" style="position: relative;"> <div class="image-wrap fff-pic" style="cursor: pointer;"> <img alt="The Falcon's first stage completed its job, lifting the rocket off the pad (pictured) and toward space, then separated and landed back at Cape Canaveral" class="blkBorder img-share b-loaded" height="650" id="i-cf7c2d0f92b58737" src="http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2018/01/10/16/47F2886C00000578-0-image-a-3_1515601593974.jpg" width="962" /><br /> <div class="overlay-icon mobile-gallery"> </div> </div> </div> <div class="imageCaption"> The Falcon's first stage completed its job, lifting the rocket off the pad (pictured) and toward space, then separated and landed back at Cape Canaveral</div> <div class="imageCaption"> <br /></div> </div> <div class="mol-para-with-font"> Experts claimed the satellite was 'dead in orbit' - but say the information blackout around the launch means we may never know its fate.<span class="mol-style-bold"> </span></div> <div class="mol-para-with-font"> Peter B. de Selding, a spaceflight reporter for'Space Intel Report' claimed a source <a class="" href="https://twitter.com/pbdes/status/950473623483101186" rel="nofollow" style="font-weight: bold;" target="_blank">told him</a> the satellite 'may be dead in orbit after separation'.</div> <div class="mol-para-with-font"> 'Info blackout renders any conclusion - launcher issue? Satellite-only issue? - impossible to draw.' he added.<br /> </div> <div class="mol-para-with-font"> SpaceX told Selding: 'We do not comment on missions of this nature; but as of right now reviews of the data indicate Falcon 9 performed nominally.'</div> <div class="mol-para-with-font"> Photos and video show the launch of Zuma lighting up the Florida sky but the exact position of its orbit was kept a secret.</div> <div class="mol-para-with-font"> The ship launched in an orbit less than 1,200 miles from Earth and within two minutes disengaged its rocket booster, which then traveled back to and landed right at the Air Force Station. </div> <div class="mol-para-with-font"> Much of the trip was kept secret and it was not revealed where the ship traveled to in the atmosphere. </div> <div class="mol-para-with-font"> Selding said the lack of information was an issue.</div> <div class="mol-para-with-font"> <br /></div> <div class="mol-img-group xwArtSplitter"> <div class="mol-img" style="position: relative;"> <div class="image-wrap fff-pic" style="cursor: pointer;"> <img alt="The launch is seen from Viera, Florida. SpaceX launched its mission - a secret satellite codenamed Zuma - at 8pm on Sunday" class="blkBorder img-share b-loaded" height="681" id="i-d1b46e544a38d1c3" src="http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2018/01/12/00/47DF965C00000578-5260777-The_launch_is_seen_from_Viera_Florida_SpaceX_launched_its_missio-a-20_1515717198167.jpg" width="950" /><br /> <div class="overlay-icon mobile-gallery"> </div> </div> </div> <div class="imageCaption"> The launch is seen from Viera, Florida. SpaceX launched its mission - a secret satellite codenamed Zuma - at 8pm on Sunday</div> <div class="imageCaption"> <br /></div> </div> <div class="mol-img-group xwArtSplitter"> <div class="mol-img" style="position: relative;"> <div class="image-wrap fff-pic" style="cursor: pointer;"> <img alt="Pictured is another view made with a long exposure. The ship launched in an orbit less than 1,200 miles from Earth and within two minutes prepared for its rocket booster to land right back at the Air Force Station, which it did" class="blkBorder img-share b-loaded" height="631" id="i-f8168976da7a792e" src="http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2018/01/08/20/47DFECEC00000578-5245575-Pictured_is_another_view_made_with_a_long_exposure_The_ship_laun-a-16_1515442115027.jpg" width="960" /><br /> <div class="overlay-icon mobile-gallery"> </div> </div> </div> <div class="imageCaption"> Pictured is another view made with a long exposure. The ship launched in an orbit less than 1,200 miles from Earth and within two minutes prepared for its rocket booster to land right back at the Air Force Station, which it did</div> <div class="imageCaption"> <br /></div> </div> <div class="mol-para-with-font"> 'Distasteful to announce this stuff without beyond-reasonable-doubt certitude,' he tweeted.</div> <div class="mol-para-with-font"> 'But if those in the know refuse to speak publicly, we all abhor the vacuum; the facts will emerge one way or another.'</div> <div class="mol-para-with-font"> The launch was broadcast on SpaceX's website but the entire mission was not live-streamed. What the ship is made out of, among other questions, has not been revealed to the public.</div> <div class="mol-para-with-font"> Previous reasons given for the delay in its launch were further testing being necessary and weather-related conditions.</div> <div class="mol-para-with-font"> Musk, meanwhile announced on January 4 that SpaceX will launch 'the world's most powerful rocket' later this month with his own electric car on board.<br /> </div> <div class="mol-para-with-font"> The Falcon Heavy 'megarocket' will fire beyond orbit from the former Apollo 11 moon rocket launchpad at the Kennedy Space Centre near Cape Canaveral, Florid.</div> <div class="mol-para-with-font"> Musk said the launch vehicle will blast off at the 'end of the month' on an unmanned mission with a unique payload - the billionaire's cherry red 2008 Tesla Roadster, which will be fired toward Mars.</div> <div class="mol-para-with-font"> The rocket will use 27 engines and three separate re-usable cores that will return to Earth after liftoff during the test flight, which is set to be one of the firm's most technically complex challenges to date. </div> <div class="mol-para-with-font"> <br /></div> <div class="mol-img-group xwArtSplitter"> <div class="mol-img" style="position: relative;"> <div class="image-wrap fff-pic" style="cursor: pointer;"> <img alt="Elon Musk has announced SpaceX will launch 'the world's most powerful rocket' later this month with his own electric car on board. The Falcon Heavy 'megarocket' (pictured) will fire beyond orbit from the former Apollo 11 moon rocket launchpad at the Kennedy Space Centre near Cape Canaveral, Florida" class="blkBorder img-share b-loaded" height="641" id="i-612271630bb45c72" src="http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2018/01/03/17/47BAAE2000000578-5232569-image-a-19_1515000269794.jpg" width="962" /><br /> <div class="overlay-icon mobile-gallery"> </div> </div> </div> <div class="imageCaption" id="ext-gen122"> Elon Musk has announced SpaceX will launch 'the world's most powerful rocket' later this month with his own electric car on board. The Falcon Heavy 'megarocket' (pictured) will fire beyond orbit from the former Apollo 11 moon rocket launchpad at the Kennedy Space Centre near Cape Canaveral, Florida</div> </div> <br /> <div class="mol-para-with-font"> Before the maiden launch, a full test firing of the rocket's engines is expected, Musk said.</div> <div class="mol-para-with-font"> 'Falcon Heavy now vertical on the former Apollo 11 moon rocket launchpad,' he wrote on <a class="hoverZoomLink" href="https://www.instagram.com/p/BdjBHqdAIzs/?taken-by=elonmusk" rel="nofollow" style="font-weight: bold;" target="_blank">Instagram</a> on Thursday.</div> <div class="mol-para-with-font"> 'At 2,500 tons of thrust, equal to 18 Boeing 747 aircraft at full throttle, it will be the most powerful rocket in the world by a factor of two. Excitement on launch day guaranteed, one way or another.</div> <div class="mol-para-with-font"> 'Hold-down test fire next week. Launch end of the month.'</div> <div class="mol-para-with-font"> When it lifts off for the first time in late January, the Falcon Heavy will become the most powerful rocket in the world thanks to its 5.1 million pounds of thrust generated through 27 Merlin engines.</div> <div class="mol-para-with-font"> The vast rocket, which is ultimately three Falcon 9 rockets linked together, will have the combined thrust to eventually launch 140,000 pounds (63,500kg) of cargo into orbit.<br /> </div> <div class="mol-para-with-font"> The mission marks SpaceX's most ambitious project to date.</div> <div class="mol-para-with-font"> Musk founded SpaceX in 2002, with the aim of reducing space transportation costs and enabling the colonisation of Mars. </div> <div class="mol-para-with-font"> The 46-year-old South African is also the CEO of Tesla, and predicts Falcon Heavy's payload will stay in deep space for a while.</div> <div class="mol-para-with-font"> A photo of the unusual cargo - Musk's cherry red 2008 Tesla Roadster - was released last month.</div> <div class="mol-para-with-font"> <span class="">Images released by SpaceX show an original Roadster perched on a large cone inside the Falcon Heavy on what appears to be a secure mount to keep it stationary as the rocket makes its maiden flight.</span></div> <div class="mol-para-with-font" id="ext-gen123"> 'Test flights of new rockets usually contain mass simulators in the form of concrete or steel blocks. That seemed extremely boring,' Musk said in December.  </div> <br /> <div class="mol-img-group xwArtSplitter"> <div class="mol-img" style="position: relative;"> <div class="image-wrap fff-pic" style="cursor: pointer;"> <img alt="If all goes according to plan, the Falcon Heavy will lift off and enter orbit before two of its booster rockets separate and return to Earth at Cape Canaveral in controlled landings. The centre core of the rocket will then separate from the main module, containing Musk's car, and begin its own controlled descent back to Earth, landing on a drone ship in the Pacific Ocean" class="blkBorder img-share b-loaded" height="641" id="i-d7ddb294cddd3bd4" src="http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2018/01/03/17/47BAAE1800000578-0-image-a-11_1514999899195.jpg" width="962" /><br /> <div class="overlay-icon mobile-gallery"> </div> </div> </div> <div class="imageCaption"> If all goes according to plan, the Falcon Heavy will lift off and enter orbit before two of its booster rockets separate and return to Earth at Cape Canaveral in controlled landings. The centre core of the rocket will then separate from the main module, containing Musk's car, and begin its own controlled descent back to Earth, landing on a drone ship in the Pacific Ocean </div> <div class="imageCaption"> <br /></div> </div> <div class="mol-img-group xwArtSplitter"> <div class="mol-img" style="position: relative;"> <div class="image-wrap fff-pic" style="cursor: pointer;"> <img alt="Musk said the launch vehicle will blast off at the 'end of the month' on an unmanned mission with a unique payload - the billionaire's cherry red 2008 Tesla Roadster, which will be fired toward Mars. Pictured is the car strapped into the Falcon Heavy's main module" class="blkBorder img-share b-loaded" height="632" id="i-95cfe9be08d5e378" src="http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2018/01/12/00/47C6994D00000578-5260777-Musk_said_the_launch_vehicle_will_blast_off_at_the_end_of_the_mo-a-19_1515717198138.jpg" width="950" /><br /> <div class="overlay-icon mobile-gallery"> </div> </div> </div> <div class="imageCaption" id="ext-gen124"> Musk said the launch vehicle will blast off at the 'end of the month' on an unmanned mission with a unique payload - the billionaire's cherry red 2008 Tesla Roadster, which will be fired toward Mars. Pictured is the car strapped into the Falcon Heavy's main module</div> </div> <br /> <div class="mol-para-with-font"> 'Of course, anything boring is terrible, especially companies, so we decided to send something unusual, something that made us feel.</div> <div class="mol-para-with-font"> 'The payload will be an original Tesla Roadster, playing Space Oddity, on a billion year elliptic Mars orbit.'</div> <div class="mol-para-with-font"> If all goes according to plan, the Falcon Heavy will lift off and enter Earth's orbit, before two of its booster rockets separate off and return to Earth at Cape Canaveral in controlled landings.</div> <div class="mol-para-with-font"> The rocket's central core will then separate from the main module, containing Musk's car, and begin its own controlled descent back to Earth, landing on the firm's 'Of Course I Still Love You' drone ship in the Pacific Ocean.</div> <div class="mol-para-with-font"> The main module will continue its trajectory into 'deep space', the billionaire said, with a destination set for the orbit of Mars 140 million miles (225 million kilometres) away.</div> <div class="mol-para-with-font"> Musk has said the payload 'will be in deep space for a billion years or so if it doesn't blow up on ascent.' </div> <div class="mol-para-with-font"> In a Washington, D.C., speech last July the Tesla founder which said Falcon Heavy is one of the most difficult and technically complex projects SpaceX has ever undertaken.</div> <div class="mol-para-with-font"> 'There's a lot of risk associated with Falcon Heavy,' he said during the 2017 International Space Station Research and Development Conference.</div> <br /> <div class="mol-img-group xwArtSplitter"> <div class="splitLeft"> <div class="mol-img" style="position: relative;"> <div class="image-wrap fff-pic" style="cursor: pointer;"> <img alt="The upcoming Falcon Heavy test launch is one of SpaceX's most technically complex challenges to date" class="blkBorder img-share b-loaded" height="360" id="i-17782cd6a8fbea06" src="http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2018/01/03/17/47BAAE2400000578-5232569-image-a-32_1515000709542.jpg" width="470" /><br /> <div class="overlay-icon mobile-gallery"> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="splitRight"> <div class="mol-img" style="position: relative;"> <div class="image-wrap fff-pic" style="cursor: pointer;"> <img alt="The rocket boasts 27 engines and three separate re-usable cores that will return to Earth after liftoff" class="blkBorder img-share b-loaded" height="360" id="i-5e0fbbb3d5ef7f1" src="http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2018/01/03/17/47BAAE1800000578-5232569-image-m-31_1515000697064.jpg" width="470" /><br /> <div class="overlay-icon mobile-gallery"> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="imageCaption" id="ext-gen126"> The rocket will use 27 engines and three separate re-usable cores that will return to Earth after liftoff during the test flight, which is set to be one of the firm's most technically complex challenges to date </div> </div> <br /> <div class="mol-para-with-font"> 'Real good chance that the vehicle doesn't make it to orbit. I want to make sure to set expectations accordingly.'</div> <div class="mol-para-with-font"> Musk has spent the proceeding months building up hype for the historic launch with a series of social media posts.</div> <div class="mol-para-with-font"> Last month he posted an image to Twitter of people stoof next to a landed Falcon Heavy rocket to give an idea of the vehicle's scale.</div> <div class="mol-para-with-font"> He tweeted: 'Falcon Heavy launching from same @NASA pad as the Saturn V Apollo 11 moon rocket. </div> <div class="mol-para-with-font"> 'It was 50% higher thrust with five F-1 engines at 7.5M lb-F. </div> <br /> <div class="mol-para-with-font"> 'I love that rocket so much.'</div> <div class="mol-para-with-font"> He also confirmed the rocket will have a 'max thrust at lift-off is 5.1 million pounds or 2300 metric tons,' adding the first mission will run at 92 per cent capacity.</div> <div class="mol-para-with-font"> 'Falcon Heavy to launch next month from Apollo 11 pad at the Cape. </div> <div class="mol-para-with-font"> 'Will have double thrust of next largest rocket. Guaranteed to be exciting, one way or another,' Musk originally posted. <a href="http://dailymail.co.uk/">dailymail.co.uk</a></div> <br /> <br /> <div class="item" data-track-module="am-external-links^external-links" id="external-source-links"> <b>Read more:</b> <br /> <ul> <li><a class="js-tl" href="https://www.wsj.com/articles/u-s-spy-satellite-believed-lost-after-spacex-mission-fails-1515462479?mod=e2tw#_=_" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">U.S. Spy Satellite Believed Lost After SpaceX Mission Fails - WSJ</a></li> <li><a class="js-tl" href="http://money.cnn.com/2017/12/02/technology/elon-musk-spacex-falcon-heavy-launch/index.html" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Elon Musk will send his Tesla Roadster to Mars on a giant rocket - Dec. 2, 2017</a></li> <li><a class="js-tl" href="https://www.theverge.com/2017/12/1/16726822/spacex-falcon-heavy-tesla-roadster-launch-elon-musk" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">www.theverge.com...</a></li> <li><a class="js-tl" href="https://www.instagram.com/p/BdjBHqdAIzs/?taken-by=elonmusk" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Instagram</a></li> <li><a class="js-tl" href="http://money.cnn.com/2018/01/07/technology/future/spacex-zuma-spacecraft-launch/index.html" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">SpaceX launches secretive Zuma spacecraft - Jan. 7, 2018</a></li> <li><a class="js-tl" href="https://twitter.com/pbdes/status/950473623483101186" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Peter B. de Selding on Twitter: "Zuma satellite from @northropgrumman may be dead in orbit after separation from @SpaceX Falcon 9, sources say. Info blackout renders any con¿ https://t.co/elO8PlGixY"</a></li> <li><a class="js-tl" href="http://abcnews.go.com/US/classified-satellite-fell-ocean-spacex-launch-official-confirms/story?id=52246100" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Classified satellite fell into ocean after SpaceX launch, official confirms - ABC News</a></li> </ul> </div> </div> <div class="s3gt_translate_tooltip_mini_box" id="s3gt_translate_tooltip_mini" is_bottom="true" is_mini="true" style="background: initial !important; border-collapse: initial !important; border-radius: initial !important; border-spacing: initial !important; border: initial !important; box-sizing: initial !important; color: inherit !important; direction: ltr !important; display: initial !important; flex-direction: initial !important; font-family: X-LocaleSpecific, sans-serif, Tahoma, Helvetica !important; font-size: 13px !important; font-weight: initial !important; height: initial !important; left: 620px; letter-spacing: initial !important; line-height: 13px !important; margin: auto !important; max-height: initial !important; max-width: initial !important; min-height: initial !important; min-width: initial !important; opacity: 0.75; outline: initial !important; overflow-wrap: initial !important; padding: initial !important; position: absolute; table-layout: initial !important; text-align: initial !important; text-shadow: initial !important; top: 6994px; vertical-align: top !important; white-space: inherit !important; width: initial !important; word-break: initial !important; word-spacing: initial !important;"> <div class="s3gt_translate_tooltip_mini" id="s3gt_translate_tooltip_mini_logo" title="Translate selected text"> </div> </div> </div>

Top secret Zuma satellite really DID fall into the Pacific after SpaceX launch?

A top secret billion-dollar spy satellite plummeted into the Indian Ocean after a botched SpaceX mission over the weekend, but Elon Mus...

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