Quote from: GewoonLukas_ on 01/14/2023 07:33 pmPotential reason for the delay (Not confirmed!)QuoteIt was noted that Air Liquide has been working against a shortfall of the needed amounts of nitrogen to fully support the USSF-67 launch.In the review, sources note that a capacity problem at Air Liquide existed for Saturday’s launch attempt, with a solution to tie trailers filled with nitrogen into the overall nitrogen loop on base to augment the available supply.The issue at Air Liquide is the second such occurrence with the nitrogen supply to the space center within a year. A very visible and notable issue in 2022 played a large role in the delay of the SLS rocket’s Wet Dress Rehearsal campaign.The plan put in place for Saturday’s Falcon Heavy launch involves tying trailers of nitrogen into the main nitrogen loop – which runs up from the VAB out to the LC-39 pads before turning south to service Launch Complexes 41, 40, and 37.In addition to tying in trailers, base operations also have the option to isolate specific portions of the loop to help provide the needed supply of nitrogen for Falcon Heavy.https://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2023/01/ussf-67-launch/The Air Liquide Nitrogen issue story continues...QuoteAt a Space Mobility panel in Orlando, KSC director Janet Petro says Air Liquide, which supplies KSC with nitrogen, was nervous about supporting January's Falcon Heavy/USSF-67 on the heels of Artemis. SpaceX came up with a unique solution by bringing in nitrogen "rechargers."https://twitter.com/EmreKelly/status/1628045259811717121Quote"SpaceX came up with a unique resolution where they brought in a couple of heavy-duty rechargers that would provide that gaseous nitrogen," Petro said.https://twitter.com/EmreKelly/status/1628045261506330624QuoteThis is interesting. Air Liquide, via a legal firm, said this was false at the time (when we reported it).https://twitter.com/NASASpaceflight/status/1628051902985302016QuoteYeah, they denied that one too. This was about Falcon Heavy. It was part of the launch preview, but we pulled that section after their lawyers got involved. I've requested they respond with a statement to the notes in Emre's tweet.https://twitter.com/NASASpaceflight/status/1628055689829527552
Potential reason for the delay (Not confirmed!)QuoteIt was noted that Air Liquide has been working against a shortfall of the needed amounts of nitrogen to fully support the USSF-67 launch.In the review, sources note that a capacity problem at Air Liquide existed for Saturday’s launch attempt, with a solution to tie trailers filled with nitrogen into the overall nitrogen loop on base to augment the available supply.The issue at Air Liquide is the second such occurrence with the nitrogen supply to the space center within a year. A very visible and notable issue in 2022 played a large role in the delay of the SLS rocket’s Wet Dress Rehearsal campaign.The plan put in place for Saturday’s Falcon Heavy launch involves tying trailers of nitrogen into the main nitrogen loop – which runs up from the VAB out to the LC-39 pads before turning south to service Launch Complexes 41, 40, and 37.In addition to tying in trailers, base operations also have the option to isolate specific portions of the loop to help provide the needed supply of nitrogen for Falcon Heavy.https://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2023/01/ussf-67-launch/
It was noted that Air Liquide has been working against a shortfall of the needed amounts of nitrogen to fully support the USSF-67 launch.In the review, sources note that a capacity problem at Air Liquide existed for Saturday’s launch attempt, with a solution to tie trailers filled with nitrogen into the overall nitrogen loop on base to augment the available supply.The issue at Air Liquide is the second such occurrence with the nitrogen supply to the space center within a year. A very visible and notable issue in 2022 played a large role in the delay of the SLS rocket’s Wet Dress Rehearsal campaign.The plan put in place for Saturday’s Falcon Heavy launch involves tying trailers of nitrogen into the main nitrogen loop – which runs up from the VAB out to the LC-39 pads before turning south to service Launch Complexes 41, 40, and 37.In addition to tying in trailers, base operations also have the option to isolate specific portions of the loop to help provide the needed supply of nitrogen for Falcon Heavy.
At a Space Mobility panel in Orlando, KSC director Janet Petro says Air Liquide, which supplies KSC with nitrogen, was nervous about supporting January's Falcon Heavy/USSF-67 on the heels of Artemis. SpaceX came up with a unique solution by bringing in nitrogen "rechargers."
"SpaceX came up with a unique resolution where they brought in a couple of heavy-duty rechargers that would provide that gaseous nitrogen," Petro said.
This is interesting. Air Liquide, via a legal firm, said this was false at the time (when we reported it).
Yeah, they denied that one too. This was about Falcon Heavy. It was part of the launch preview, but we pulled that section after their lawyers got involved. I've requested they respond with a statement to the notes in Emre's tweet.
Given Air Liquide's lawyers told us to correct our article about LN2 rechargers being sought as an alternative solution for the USSF-67, which turned out to be true, per the KSC director (in Emre's tweet), I asked them for a statement. Air Liquide provided this statement.
Got a response from Air Liquide on this:
US military tech demo sat LDPE-3A [55264] started shadowing China secret SJ-23 [55131] from 2 weeks ago. The 30km level close approach may have happened on Nov. 4th and 5th. Then, LDPE-3A maneuvered to synchronize with SJ-23, both west drifting 0.68 deg/day
