132125Z DEC 23NAVAREA IV 1442/23(GEN).WESTERN NORTH ATLANTIC.FLORIDA.CANCEL NAVAREA IV 1420/23 AND THIS MSG,OPERATIONS CANCELED.
132125Z DEC 23NAVAREA XII 867/23(16,17,19).EASTERN NORTH PACIFIC.CANCEL NAVAREA XII 854/23 AND THIS MSG,OPERATIONS CANCELED.
This is expected to push back the launch until at least late December, perhaps longer. SpaceX and Space Force officials have not divulged details about the problems causing the delay.
https://arstechnica.com/space/2023/12/technical-problems-ground-spacex-launch-of-us-military-spaceplane/Quote from: Stephen ClarkThis is expected to push back the launch until at least late December, perhaps longer. SpaceX and Space Force officials have not divulged details about the problems causing the delay.
SpaceX called off a launch attempt Monday night at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida to resolve a problem with a ground system. A senior Space Force official told Ars on Wednesday that additional issues will cause an additional delay in the launch.“We’re working through a couple of technical glitches with our SpaceX team that just are going to take a little bit more time to work through," said Col. James Horne, deputy director of the Space Force's Assured Access to Space directorate. "We haven’t nailed down a specific launch date yet, but we’re going to have to roll back into the HIF (Horizontal Integration Facility) and work through some things on the rocket.”Horne, a senior leader on the Space Force team overseeing military launches like this one, said the ground equipment problem that prevented liftoff Monday night could be fixed as soon as Wednesday. But it will take longer to resolve other issues he declined to specify. "We found some things that we need to run some analysis on, so that’s what’s driving the delay," he said.
Quote from: mn on 12/13/2023 09:03 pmDoes this mean that the problem was vehicle/spacecraft related?Or just that after a delay the spacecraft needs additional servicing?With DOD flights I just always assume it's the payload.Seen too many that are on the pad ready to go then something comes up and it's month till it's back on the pad.
Does this mean that the problem was vehicle/spacecraft related?Or just that after a delay the spacecraft needs additional servicing?
It looks like Falcon Heavy’s launch of the military’s X-37B spaceplane could slip a few weeks to resolve a few technical glitches. We’ll know soon [if] this will affect schedules for the IM-1 lunar mission or Axiom’s Ax-3 astronaut mission.
Quote from: Ken the Bin on 12/13/2023 10:12 pmhttps://arstechnica.com/space/2023/12/technical-problems-ground-spacex-launch-of-us-military-spaceplane/Quote from: Stephen ClarkThis is expected to push back the launch until at least late December, perhaps longer. SpaceX and Space Force officials have not divulged details about the problems causing the delay.Also, from the same article:QuoteSpaceX called off a launch attempt Monday night at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida to resolve a problem with a ground system. A senior Space Force official told Ars on Wednesday that additional issues will cause an additional delay in the launch.“We’re working through a couple of technical glitches with our SpaceX team that just are going to take a little bit more time to work through," said Col. James Horne, deputy director of the Space Force's Assured Access to Space directorate. "We haven’t nailed down a specific launch date yet, but we’re going to have to roll back into the HIF (Horizontal Integration Facility) and work through some things on the rocket.”Horne, a senior leader on the Space Force team overseeing military launches like this one, said the ground equipment problem that prevented liftoff Monday night could be fixed as soon as Wednesday. But it will take longer to resolve other issues he declined to specify. "We found some things that we need to run some analysis on, so that’s what’s driving the delay," he said.
...and work through some things on the rocket...
Now for some speculation: They observed some things on the 'WDR' (aka launch attempt) that the US Space Force wants to review, but possibly things that SpaceX sees regularly on Starlink launches and goes ahead anyway. (But nothing wrong with being extra careful, this payload is quite valuable)
So what's the problem?
Now targeting no earlier than Thursday, December 28 for Falcon Heavy to launch USSF-52 to orbit from Florida → http://spacex.com/launches
SpaceX is targeting no earlier than Thursday, December 28 for Falcon Heavy to launch USSF-52 to orbit from Launch Complex 39A (LC-39A) at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida. The four-hour launch window opens at 7:00 p.m. ET. If needed, a backup opportunity is available on Friday, December 29 during the same window.
The Falcon Heavy Transporter-Erector is rolling out at Launch Complex 39A with no rocket onboard which indicates the rocket for USSF-52 has been taken out of the transporter and being worked on right now. Launch is now no earlier than Dec 28.nsf.live/spacecoast
While working in the area heard that an engine on one of the cores of the FH needs replaced. Sounds rather far fetched to me.
At pad 39A, the transporter-erector has moved off the launch pad as SpaceX gets ready for the delayed launch of a Falcon Heavy rocket with the U.S. military's X-37B mini-shuttle, currently scheduled for Dec. 28. Watch live views: youtube.com/live/mNRP1y_Ip…
Will an FRF be required prior to the next launch attempt?
Quote from: TJL on 12/22/2023 06:11 pmWill an FRF be required prior to the next launch attempt?Because there was an engine replacement, it's highly likely a static fire would need to be conducted before the next launch attempt.