IANS | 22 Jan, 2018
Space transport services
company SpaceX won't be able to test fire its three-core Falcon Heavy
rocket from Kennedy Space Centre (KSC) on Monday owing to the US
government shutdown, media reported.
"Due to the
shutdown removing key members of the civilian workforce, the 45th
Space Wing will not be able to support commercial static fires taking
place on KSC," Florida Today reported.
The Air
Force's 45th Space Wing further said that launch operations at KSC
and Cape Canaveral Air Force Station are on hold until the shutdown
is resolved.
The US government shutdown has left upcoming
launches from NASA and space transport services company SpaceX in
limbo.
According to a report in Inverse, a recent FAQ from
NASA says that all non-essential employees should stay at home during
a government shutdown unless they receive alternative guidance.
"The
space walk by NASA astronauts Mark Vande Hei and Scott Tingle,
scheduled for Tuesday, will go on as planned, but if the shutdown
continues into next week, they may not be broadcast because NASA TV
is likely not considered mission essential," the report
added.
NASA's spacewalk flight director Zeb Scoville told
the media last week that both ISS crew members as well as ground
support staff, from engineers to mission control, will continue in
the job.
If the shutdown continues, it may also affect the
launch of a SpaceX communications satellite which is scheduled for
January 30 launch from Cape Canaveral.