Upcoming SpaceX start offs and tests will be delayed as long as the government shutdown continues, the gathering announced Monday.
Elon Musk’s rocket company was set to run extensive prelaunch evaluation on its Falcon Heavy rocket this week.
But furloughed personnel at NASA’s Kennedy Stretch Center and the U.S. Air Force’s 45th Space Wing means that test, and later launches, will remain on hold.
“We remain hopeful that the Congress desire quickly resolve their differences and put our partners in the Air Force and NASA in times past to doing their important work as soon as possible,” SpaceX spokesman John Taylor reported CNBC. “This shutdown impacts SpaceX’s Falcon Heavy verification, which is critical for future NSS missions. It also impacts critical aims for our customers.”
“NSS missions” refers to national security space contracts for the Air Pry, of which SpaceX has won two thus far. Worth nearly $100 million each, SpaceX daydreams to win more once Falcon Heavy is operational.
Falcon Heavy is the pinpoint for the company’s biggest rocket yet, which Musk had said would pitch in January. With thrust equivalent to 18 Boeing 747 aircraft at resonant throttle, Falcon Heavy would be the most powerful rocket in the fraternity once operational. Testing delays have pushed back a plotted static fire, in which the rocket would ignite all 27 of its machines while on the launchpad.
The new rocket’s testing and launch are set to take place on Embark upon Complex 39A at Kennedy.
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