WASHINGTON: A U.S. spy satellite that was launched from Cape Canaveral,Florida, aboard a SpaceX rocket on Sunday failed to reach orbit and isassumed to be a total loss, two U.S. officials briefed on the mission saidon Monday, reported Reuters.
The classified intelligence satellite, built by Northrop Grumman Corp,failed to separate from the second stage of the Falcon 9 rocket and isassumed to have broken up or plunged into the sea, said the two officials,who spoke on condition of anonymity.
The satellite is assumed to be “a write-off,” one of the officials said.
The presumed loss of the satellite was first reported by the Wall StreetJournal.
Northrop Grumman built the multibillion-dollar satellite, code-named Zuma,and was responsible for choosing the SpaceX Falcon 9 launch vehicle, bothofficials said.
An investigation is under way, but there is no initial indication ofsabotage or other interference, they said.
SpaceX spokesman James Gleeson said: “We do not comment on missions of thisnature; but as of right now reviews of the data indicate Falcon 9 performednominally.”
Space Exploration Technologies Corp, led by entrepreneur Elon Musk,launched its first satellite for the U.S. military with its Falcon 9 rocketin May of last year.