Government Shutdown Shuts Down Falcon Heavy Test
SpaceX Can’t Test Falcon Heavy During U.S. Government Shutdown, Newsweek
“A statement from the 45th Space Wing read: “Due to the shutdown removing key members of the civilian workforce, the 45th Space Wing will not be able to support commercial static fires taking place on KSC. Without our civilian workforce, the 45th SW is unable to support launch operations as well.” The 45th Space Wing is a department of the Air Force supporting space missions. The Verge reported that it was initially unclear if the static test could take place without the 45th’s support, or if the test will be on hold until civilian staff are no longer restricted. Today, however, SpaceX confirmed the launch will halt the static fire. “This shutdown impacts SpaceX’s Falcon Heavy demonstration, which is critical for future [national security space] missions,” John Taylor, a SpaceX spokesperson, said in a statement to The Verge.”
Dang it.
Guess it’s not considered an essential activity. Wonder if this will ground the commercials launches scheduled for next week?
Probably! Even if the shutdown is…ah, shutdown by Congress agreeing on a continuing resolution until, say, Feb 8th, civilian personnel necessary for Air Force support of launches will most likely be delayed in getting back up to speed. The worst effects are on payments to military personnel, not so much for those deployed, but their wives and families, who take care of the rent, mortgage, food and clothing. Unless somehow Congress passes relief language that prohibits mortgage companies, et al, from affecting credit ratings for late payments.
Hopefully, those 100 senators can get their act together, today!
Yes, all launches are suspended during the shutdown.
I heard that all commercial launches in the US were grounded (non-essential). There is a compromise deal to pass a continuing resolution for a few more weeks. If that passes, I would hope we’re good for next week.
Yes, but probably not by much. As of noon (Monday, Jan. 22), the latest news is that the Senate has reached an agreement and a will probably vote for another, temporary spending bill later today.
But it’s worth remembering the last government shutdown. MAVEN was being prepared for launch to Mars, and that was very nearly delayed. That would have meant missing a launch window and all the extra costs implied. Fortunately, they were able to class it as an essential activity, but only because it had a telecommunications relay for the Mars rovers (then and now as a backup for other orbiters with relays, which are deep in extended mission.) So, the precedent is that something required to support a mission currently in flight is “essential” but maintaining a launch schedule, in and of itself, is not.
Nuts!!
I suspect this gets reversed once the White House learns of it. The administration is pulling out all the stops to keep this shutdown as minimal as possible like keeping national parks open and looking to accept voluntary offers of state funds to keep monuments like the Statue of Liberty open. The Air Force has more than enough people to do this work if they wanted.
If the shutdown lasts, will they also delay the Spacex ISS supply run? It needs the same or more resources than a hot fire test.
Last time around, “essential” government services included support of missions in flight, but not other NASA launches or pre-launch activities. An ISS supply run would probably not be affected. I suspect the people involved would only be paid for the days they were working on that, particular launch.
Last time around, the Dems pushed through legislation that allowed military salaries to continue through the shut-down. That would have eased limits on ranges, and sped up re-start after the shut-down ended.
This time, while Dems offered the same exemption, the Republicans refused. (And given the talking points from Republican talking-heads, about the harm being done by Dems “to the military”, I can only assume it was quite an intentional move by the Congressional Republicans.)
When SpaceX has their own launch complex in South Padre they still will require the air Force for range safety correct? Will it be the 45th space wing or whomever handles the western range at Vandenberg? Or does Texas get its own space wing to cover south Padre and Ellington field?
No. Just FAA licensing and approval.
Yes, but… The FAA approval will be different. For example, the FAA will still have more-or-less the same requirements for range safety (with modifications for the different launch location; “don’t accidentally crash into Miami” replacing “don’t accidentally crash into Corpus Christi”, etc.)
Currently, SpaceX can check that box off by saying the Air Force’s 45th or 30th space wing is handling that. Since the FAA already knows the Air Force will do the job correctly, that’s an easy way to satisfy the requirement. But from the Texas site, SpaceX will be performing those same functions themselves. There will be a certain amount of work, hopefully one-time work, involved in convincing the FAA that they will be doing the job right.
Considering the news every day last week on the test was that it will happen “tomorrow”, I’m not entirely convinced the test was actually delayed. More like Musk finally had a publicly acceptable excuse.
I’m not the biggest SpaceX doubter, but any plans of theirs should be met with a healthy amount of scrutiny