Falcon Heavy is ready but the payloads keep getting delayed

[ecarfan]

News report: virtually every spacecraft manifested on Falcon Heavy since the rocket’s first three launches has experienced major delays.

There have been only 3 FH launches and the last one was in June 2019.

[SpaceX] is now storing nine different Falcon Heavy side and center cores, one of which supported Falcon Heavy Block 5’s first two 2019 launches and the other eight of which are qualified for flight but have never flown. The grounded fleet may soon grow to 10 boosters, compared to the 11 or fewer active Falcon 9 boosters SpaceX will likely end the year with.

So many delayed FH missions. The delays have nothing to do with SpaceX.

USSF-44 is now NET December 2022, USSF-52 has reportedly slipped to April 2023, and Psyche has slid to July 2023. At least for now, ViaSat-3, USSF-67, and USSF-44 are still targeting 2022 launches,

 

[Cosmacelf]

Presumably SpaceX is charging and getting a nicely profitable storage fee for delayed missions?

 

[ecarfan]

Presumably SpaceX is charging and getting a nicely profitable storage fee for delayed missions?

Well, I was wondering about that. Have no idea if the launch contracts allow for that.

 

[bxr140]

No new news here.

The history of the space industry is the satellite schedule pushing out. Launch contracts are structured accordingly, to varying degrees depending on the payload/customer/launcher.

 

[Grendal]

Here is a quick list of boosters awaiting FH launches:

B1052.5 side (did 2 FH launches, then converted to an F9 booster for 3 launches and now converted back for Viasat 3 FH launch later this year)
B1053.2 side (did 2 FH launches with B1052 and awaiting Viasat 3 launch)
B1064 side (awaiting USSF 44 and if recovered then USSF 52)
B1065 side (awaiting USSF 44 and if recovered then USSF 52)
B1066 core - USSF 44 - will be expended
B1068 core - Viassat 3 - will be expended
B1070 core - USSF 52 - will be expended
B1072 side - Psyche
B1074 core - Psyche - will be expended
B1075 side - Psyche

So 10 usable boosters are sitting around waiting on their launches. All four center cores are intended to be expended for the extra delta V to their payloads. All side cores are intended to be recovered with a number of them on ASDSs.

 

[ecarfan]

So 10 usable boosters are sitting around waiting on their launches.

I did not realize SpaceX had that much F9 booster storage space!

 

[Grendal]

I did not realize SpaceX had that much F9 booster storage space!

I would bet that SpaceX management is a little upset that they have to sit on very usable boosters. These are important payloads though.

 

[Cosmacelf]

I would bet that SpaceX management is a little upset that they have to sit on very usable boosters. These are important payloads though.

Yeah, but delays due to payload readiness are a fact of life in the launch business, so presumably SpaceX is getting compensated.

 

[Grendal]

Viasat 3 is moving ahead for the launch later this year:

Second ViaSat-3 payload arrives in California for integration

Second ViaSat-3 payload arrives in California for integration

spacenews.com