3 ms·
For most launches, it would be SpaceX's job to demate the payload from their stage -- but not for this one. Unusually (per coverage from Ars and others), the h
by rst 9y ago
For most launches, it would be SpaceX's job to demate the payload from their stage -- but not for this one. Unusually (per coverage from Ars and others), the hardware that mated the payload to the rocket was supplied by the customer of record, Northrup/Grumman, not SpaceX -- so if it failed, SpaceX can't really be blamed for that.
https://arstechnica.com/science/2018/01/what-we-know-and-what-we-dont-about-the-secretive-zuma-payload/ https://arstechnica.com/science/2018/01/what-we-know-and-wha...
- mechatronix00 9y agoDon’t forget about failure modes driven by out of spec loads, vibration, shock, acoustics, and thermal environments. A launch vehicle can experience higher than expected environments and can transmit those to the satellite or adapter, causing a separation or satellite failure. I’m not saying this happened but its usually a complicated post flight analysis that takes some time.