Could someone explain why, if in fact the delay is due to the payload, SpaceX cannot swop out one payload for another and use the launch window for another customer?Was there not enough time to reconfigure the F9? Is it a question of hardware? Orbital mechanics?I'm sure SpaceX has considered this, but I cannot find any explanation/discussion on this website.
thx for the info, makes a lot of sense.In keeping with Elon's analogy of airplane travel, eventually a "standby" option for alternative, compatible payloads could be the solution for this particular piece of the puzzle. A launch window is a terrible thing to waste!
So NROL effectively cost SpaceX $62m of lost revenue for the 2017 calendar year. That's based on the two week launch cadence that SpaceX now seems capable of, barring external delays.
Quote from: M.E.T. on 04/07/2017 07:34 pmSo NROL effectively cost SpaceX $62m of lost revenue for the 2017 calendar year. That's based on the two week launch cadence that SpaceX now seems capable of, barring external delays.SpaceX won't build enough rockets this year for a typical delay like this to matter the way you suggest. The company has already begun what will be a huge push to fly Falcon Heavy. That will take up weeks of schedule for no revenue payload launched. In effect, SpaceX itself will be responsible for multiple $62 millions of "lost revenue" as you see it. - Ed Kyle
As far as I know, SpaceX is core-constrained and there are plenty of payloads on both ranges. I imagine they can compensate somewhat on KSC delays with Vandenberg launches.
No such thing as "plenty of payloads on both ranges"
Quote from: Jim on 04/10/2017 01:29 pmNo such thing as "plenty of payloads on both ranges"More explicitly, if SpaceX slips NROL-76, that might free up a core for Iridium two weeks earlier.
NRO will have a specific core
Quote from: Jim on 04/10/2017 02:08 pmNRO will have a specific coreYes, but the others that NRO is pushing back do not.
Before the delay, static fire was scheduled for 12 April. Is SpaceX going to keep to this date (or something similar) even if the launch will not be until weeks later?That would assume (a) the delay is not related to the vehicle and (b) it would not have taken a herculean effort / overtime to make the 12th and without that schedule requirement the folks who do the work won't be made to work as many hours
There's a lot of manifest-y stuff here, stuff about other payloads, stuff about NROL-76 slip hypothetically costing SpaceX money, that is really not actually about NROL-76. I'd suggest these discussions are better suited for another thread or threads. Can we try and keep it on topic about the NROL-76 launch please?