SpaceX Falcon 9 Zuma Scheduled To Launch Mystery Payload

UPDATE: 11:15 a.m. EST: SpaceX announced Wednesday morning that the team at Cape Canaveral performed tests on the rocket and no additional tests were necessary, however the expected launch of the Zuma craft was moved to Friday.

Original Story:

SpaceX’s first launch of 2018 will be one that was left over from last year. The launch, scheduled for Thursday, it set to send the Zuma payload to space.

The mysterious payload was originally scheduled for a November launch and was subsequently canceled as was the backup launch day scheduled in November. What exactly the payload contains is unknown to the general public currently. However, SpaceX is contracted by the United States Federal Government to conduct launches so there has been some speculation about the payload possible being a satellite.

Filings with the Federal Communications Commission in November revealed that the launch was scheduled to happen from the Kennedy Space Center in Florida. In addition to permission for the launch from Launch Pad 39A the filings also showed that an attempt at recovering the first stage of the Falcon 9 rocket was planned.

Under “purpose of operation” on the FCC filing, the purpose was listed as “Launch vehicle communications from Kennedy Space Center.” The event description on the KSC website says the launch is scheduled for Thursday with the window for launch opening at 8 p.m., and that the first stage would make a landing attempt at Landing Zone 1 at the Cape Canaveral Air Force Station.

The launch will not be available for viewing by visitors to KSC. It’s scheduled to happen two hours after the center closes. The description for the launch says, “Availability of viewing opportunities and locations is dependent upon the scheduled launch time and is subject to NASA and U.S. Air Force approval.”

The launch was not on the NASA TV schedule but SpaceX told International Business Times that a live stream would be available on the day of the launch at spacex.com/webcast. Additionally, SpaceX said more details about the launch would be available on the SpaceX website as well on the social media accounts for the company closer to the launch.