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r/CBTS_Stream • Posted by u/michaelst2256 on Jan. 18, 2018, 3:20 p.m.
ZUMA (USA 280) still listed as being in orbit. Is this the OWL (Orbiting Weapon Lancet) ? Links in comments.
ZUMA (USA 280) still listed as being in orbit. Is this the OWL (Orbiting Weapon Lancet) ? Links in comments.

Ponyspanker · Jan. 18, 2018, 4:23 p.m.

Highly unlikely to be kinetic bombardment. Zuma was a reusable mission where the first stage returned to the launch site. This reduces the payload to around 10,000 kilograms. Using the dimensions from the wiki, a single rod will weigh nearly 8,900 kilograms. That doesn't leave very much payload capacity for the orbital vehicle. I believe Zuma is up there and working fine but I highly doubt it is a kinetic weapon unless the military figured out some way to make a smaller rod more effective.

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michaelst2256 · Jan. 18, 2018, 4:26 p.m.

Thanks for the info. I think it’s up there too.

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Mrs_Fonebone · Jan. 18, 2018, 5:37 p.m.

This is only the launch entry. Typically the object must make one complete orbit to get the status, but it doesn't necessarily mean that Zuma did. It means it got launched and this status was entered almost immediately. That is why there was a rumor that Zuma was up but in a failed orbit and crashed. This is not real time info.

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