Air Force: Government shutdown won't impact Florida SpaceX launch
Emre KellyUPDATE: SpaceX successfully launched the Air Force's GPS III satellite from Cape Canaveral on Sunday, Dec. 23.
A partial government shutdown could impact dozens of agencies if Congress and the White House can't reach a consensus by Friday, but unlike previous impasses, the next launch of a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket from Cape Canaveral appears to be safe.
Colorado-based Air Force Space Command confirmed to FLORIDA TODAY on Wednesday that a shutdown would not impact operations at Launch Complex 40, where a Tuesday attempt was scrubbed due to technical issues with the rocket's first stage.
The Department of Defense was one of six federal departments with funding secured into 2019. Nine others and dozens of agencies are on the list of those requiring approval by 11:59 p.m. Friday, meaning some 800,000 federal employees could be furloughed or forced to work without pay until a resolution.
SpaceX has been tasked with launching a critical Air Force Global Positioning System III satellite, its first-ever national security mission. The 45th Space Wing's public affairs office confirmed that all active duty service members would stay on through a shutdown and support the launch due to the security-related nature of the mission.
That launch is on the range calendar for 8:51 a.m. Sunday. Weather is excellent for the attempt, according to Air Force forecasters, at greater than 95 percent "go."
When a shutdown did affect SpaceX
During a previous shutdown in January, SpaceX was unable to test fire its much-vaunted Falcon Heavy rocket at NASA's Kennedy Space Center, a critical step the company requires before takeoff. At the time, the 45th said it was unable to support the static test fire due to the furloughing of civilian workers, which make up a significant portion of the Space Wing's workforce.
The difference between the Falcon Heavy test firing and the next SpaceX GPS launch: Advance funding of the defense department, as well as the fact that the former wasn't a national security mission. Instead, it was a test flight that eventually vaulted a Tesla Roadster and "Starman" mannequin to deep space on Feb. 6.
Impacts on NASA and KSC
NASA, however, is a different story – the Air Force manages the Eastern and Western ranges, but as a separate entity on the range, most of NASA's staff would be furloughed in the event of a shutdown, according to Senate Appropriations Committee Spokesman Jay Tilton.
"NASA still is evaluating how it would be affected by a lapse of government funding after Dec. 21," the agency said in a statement to FLORIDA TODAY. "In previous shutdowns, we have maintained personnel to support the International Space Station and its crew, and currently operating space missions, such as satellites, landers, and rovers, to ensure they’re safe and secure."
Most KSC workers would likely be furloughed, though essential personnel – security, emergency and mission critical workers – would stay on. Privately operated locations, such as Boeing's Starliner facility near the Vehicle Assembly Building and SpaceX's hangar at pad 39A, would have more leniency to stay open.
Guests wanting to spend a day at the nearby KSC Visitor Complex over the course of a potential shutdown will still be able to enjoy the main campus, which is operated privately by Delaware North.
Contact Emre Kelly at aekelly@floridatoday.com or 321-242-3715. Follow him on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram at @EmreKelly.
