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The space industry likely watched the successful deployment closely, after the top-secret satellite launched in SpaceX's last mission disappeared. Chief Operating Officer Gwynne Shotwell has denied the Falcon 9 was at fault for the mishap, saying the rocket “did everything correctly” in the Jan. 7 mission. The chief executive of SpaceX customer Iridium Communications Inc. pinned the blame on defense company Northrop Grumman Corp., which has declined to comment.
SpaceX Keeps U.S. Air Force's Confidence After Zuma Satellite's Loss
The satellite launched Wednesday is a first for GovSat, a public-private partnership between Luxembourg and SES. It will enable secure communication links for government and security missions like maritime situations or humanitarian crises, according to a press kit. SpaceX said it won't attempt to recover the first stage of the rocket, which previously flew on a mission in May 2017.
The company's next launch is expected to be the maiden flight of its larger and more powerful Falcon Heavy. That rocket -- the most powerful operational rocket in the world -- could take off for the first time as soon as Feb. 6, CEO Musk said on Twitter.
To contact the reporter on this story: Dana Hull in San Francisco at dhull12@bloomberg.net.
To contact the editors responsible for this story: Craig Trudell at ctrudell1@bloomberg.net, Anne Riley Moffat, Brendan Case
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