SpaceX successfully launches Zuma mission for US government

SpaceX successfully launches Zuma mission for US government
Elon Musk’s SpaceX launches its Zuma mission for US government from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida on a Falcon 9 rocket
Elon Musk’s Space Exploration Technologies Corp. successfully launched its first mission of the new year: a classified payload for the US government into low-earth orbit.

The mission—referred to as code name Zuma—took off from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida on a Falcon 9 rocket. SpaceX landed the rocket’s first stage for reuse in a future launch, a key step in its goal to drive down the cost of access to space.

Defense contractor Northrop Grumman Corp. was assigned to choose which company would launch the restricted payload, and it selected SpaceX’s Falcon 9, calling it a cost effective option, said Lon Rains, a Northrop Grumman spokesman, in an emailed statement before the launch.

“As a company, Northrop Grumman realizes this is a monumental responsibility and we have taken great care to ensure the most affordable and lowest risk scenario for Zuma,” Rains said, declining to comment on the nature of the payload.

Indian Railways has decided to deploy “Drone” cameras (UAV/NETRA) for various railway activities especially project monitoring and maintenance of tracks and other railway infrastructure. It has been given directions to Zonal Railways to procure such cameras. This is in-line with Railways’ desire to use technology to enhance safety and efficiency in train operations.

“Drone” cameras shall be deployed to undertake monitoring activities of relief and rescue operation, project monitoring, progress of important works, conditions of track and inspection related activities. It shall also be used to assess preparedness of Non-Interlocking (NI) works, crowd management during fairs and melas, to identify scrap and also for aerial survey of station yards. It is going to be instrumental in providing real time inputs related to safety and maintenance of tracks and other railway infrastructure.

Under this initiative, West Central Railways with headquarter at Jabalpur (M.P) has become the first Zonal Railway to procure “Drone” cameras in Indian Railways. West Central Railways has already done a trial-run of those cameras last week on its all the three divisions in the following locations.

Jabalpur Division – Narmada Bridge near Bhitoni
Bhopal Division – (i) Nishatpura Yard; (ii) Third Line work between HBJ – Misrod.
Kota Division – (i) Chambal Bridge near Kota; (ii) Dakania Talav Yard near Kota.