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This was an interesting launch. Launch was delayed a couple times IIRC, at least once due to them wanting to review data from fairing tests. Classified payload

This was an interesting launch. Launch was delayed a couple times IIRC, at least once due to them wanting to review data from fairing tests. Classified payload, so no video of fairing separation. On the webcast, the host went silent for over a minute when fairing separation should have occurred, before coming back with > sigh alright so we'll address the fairing deployment here in a second once we have more information Indicating something might be up. Later he just says > Quick sidebar, we did get successful confirmation that the fairings did deploy. So seems like they knew something was up with the payload at that point, but that their telemetry indicated their mission was successful. As others have noted, it was Northrop Grumman who was responsible for the payload adaptor attaching it to second stage. So unless fairing deployment or the launch damaged the payload/adaptor somehow, SpaceX would have done their part. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0PWu3BRxn60 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0PWu3BRxn60

jnsaff2 9y ago
> On the webcast, the host went silent for over a minute when fairing separation should have occurred, before coming back with Or the host was not cleared to view the fairing separation/payload themselves and had to get their information from others.
- Robotbeat 9y ago
  Bingo. Everything even close to the payload would need to be approved before being mentioned by the host. And the penalty for screwing that up is pretty stiff (for the company and employee), so you sure as heck are going to error on the side of caution.
- peeters 9y ago
  Oh no doubt he was waiting for info to be relayed to him, I just felt the combination of his sigh, his language (we'll address the situation), and the fact that there was such a long silence indicated that he didn't anticipate it taking so long to have confirmation of fairing deploy. In typical launches the confirmation comes a few seconds after deployment, not a couple minutes. And if you anticipate 1-2 minutes of nothing to report, usually you'd plan to be saying something in the meantime to avoid dead air. I could obviously be misinterpreting it, but this was my impression when watching it live, before we even knew there was an issue with the payload. When I watched it I thought they had lost it until he came back and said fairing deploy was successful.
sitharus 9y ago
If you go to 16:10 on the video you’ll hear a call to relinquish control of the cameras. Due to the classified mission only authorised personnel are allowed to see the data from the second stage, so the commentator would not see any of the usual information. I assume to get the fairing deployment conformation they would have to ask someone which would take a little longer than just looking at the data.

jnsaff2 9y ago

> On the webcast, the host went silent for over a minute when fairing separation should have occurred, before coming back with Or the host was not cleared to view the fairing separation/payload themselves and had to get their information from others.

Robotbeat 9y ago
Bingo. Everything even close to the payload would need to be approved before being mentioned by the host. And the penalty for screwing that up is pretty stiff (for the company and employee), so you sure as heck are going to error on the side of caution.
peeters 9y ago
Oh no doubt he was waiting for info to be relayed to him, I just felt the combination of his sigh, his language (we'll address the situation), and the fact that there was such a long silence indicated that he didn't anticipate it taking so long to have confirmation of fairing deploy. In typical launches the confirmation comes a few seconds after deployment, not a couple minutes. And if you anticipate 1-2 minutes of nothing to report, usually you'd plan to be saying something in the meantime to avoid dead air. I could obviously be misinterpreting it, but this was my impression when watching it live, before we even knew there was an issue with the payload. When I watched it I thought they had lost it until he came back and said fairing deploy was successful.

sitharus 9y ago

If you go to 16:10 on the video you’ll hear a call to relinquish control of the cameras. Due to the classified mission only authorised personnel are allowed to see the data from the second stage, so the commentator would not see any of the usual information. I assume to get the fairing deployment conformation they would have to ask someone which would take a little longer than just looking at the data.