posted on Oct, 6 2020 @ 12:18 AM
Scrub, scrub, scrub, scrub and scrub.
The mission Starlink-12 was scrubbed for a fourth time yesterday. Only once they had a technical issue with the ground support equipment, the other
three aborts happened due to poor weather conditions. The rocket is apparently fine. Next launch attempt is today 11:29 UTC.
GPS SV04 was also aborted two das ago with just two seconds remaining on the countdown. One of the engines had an unexpected pressure reading during
startup. They have since lowered the rocket and will probably swap the engine. No new launch date yet.
Predictably, Musk was pretty pissed about this and announced he would visit the launch facilities to review the situation in person. There is only so
much he can do though. He can’t change the weather and minor technical issues will always delay launches from time to time. Sometimes stuff just
breaks.
It also doesn’t help that the Delta IV NROL-44 also hasn’t launched yet. This mission was supposed to launch in August (!) and it had no less than
six aborted launch attempts so far. This is causing all kinds of scheduling issues and high workload for the launch support personnel.
If SpaceX wants to increase launch volume they need to expand capacity. They‘re currently operating a very small booster fleet, two drone ships and
two launch facilities and are trying for two if not three launches each month. The numbers work out if nothing goes wrong, but as long as minor things
as slightly unfavorable weather conditions scrub rocket launches, there will always be something going wrong.
Anyway, in other news, SpaceX won a contract to build four missile tracking satellites fort he SDA. They satellites will be based on Starlink.
spacenews.com...
As for Starship, not much happening with SN8 yet. Expect tank pressure testing to begin soon tomorrow. The 20km hop is cancelled though, they will
have a somewhat shorter, equally suited flight for what they want to test first.
And the next Starship presentation is still on for the end of the month.