Series of SpaceX and ULA launch scrubs saddens skywatchers
Launches from Florida have been delayed several times, leading to widespread frustration that "Scrubtember" has turned into "Scrubtober."
- Finalist for the Nesta Tipping Point prize and a degree in broadcast journalism from the University of Missouri-Columbia.
This rocket carrying a GPS satellite for the US Space Force is still waiting to launch.
A September full of suffering for space fans now seems to be bleeding over into October as a long series of launch delays continues with Monday's scrub of a planned SpaceX Starlink mission.
This marks the fifth time the launch has been pushed back in the past three weeks, and it comes just three days after SpaceX had to stand down once again from launching a GPS satellite for the US Space Force on Friday. That mission has also been postponed now a total of four times in the past week.
The delays aren't only affecting SpaceX. A United Launch Alliance Delta IV Heavy rocket was set to lift a new US spy satellite into orbit Aug. 27 and has been delayed no less than six times since, most recently on Sept. 30.
The postponements have happened for a variety of reasons. Several have been tied to poor weather conditions near Cape Canaveral in Florida, but there have also been issues with launch pad equipment, sensors and mechanical matters that have caused scrubs.
My hobby of watching rocket launches is turning into a hobby of watching rockets sit on the pad while people say "Abort Abort Abort" #Scrubtober
— Mitch_J - Black Lives Matter (@Mitch_j) October 2, 2020
Each delay is a schedule-wrecker not only for the companies and crew directly involved in the missions, but for a bevy of space enthusiasts, (ahem) journalists and other observers who are hankering for a blast-off. "My hobby of watching rocket launches is turning into a hobby of watching rockets sit on the pad while people say "Abort Abort Abort," one tweeted.
Before scrub 😀.. after scrub 😔 #falcon9 #starlink #spacex #SCRUBTOBER pic.twitter.com/jGXmKQsHg5
— Astrid Cordero (@Astronaut_87) October 5, 2020
Increasingly, many of them have taken to Twitter to vent their frustrations, even giving birth to a new hashtag: #Scrubtober (previously known as #Scrubtember).
Scrubtember has just begun. pic.twitter.com/TB1ct3YxZ5
— Brady Kenniston (@TheFavoritist) October 3, 2020
Me packing for tonight's GPS launch 🤡🚀❌ #Scrubtober pic.twitter.com/DQieCGPjhr
— NickyX (@DankRockets) October 2, 2020
Are we rocket masochists? 🤕🥊🚀 @derekiswise @Zshauladventure @mgde_visuals @Astronaut_87 @SpaceX #Starlink #Scrubtober pic.twitter.com/TcZPUYDILC
— NickyX (@DankRockets) October 5, 2020
#Scrubtober like... pic.twitter.com/SL8ZmcAGwB
— Kai Blaschke (@kaiblaschke) October 5, 2020
2020 why have you cursed the rockets too!!#Scrubtober
— Scott (@scottwinberg) October 5, 2020
#SpaceflightNewsMemes #Scrubtober Range conflict Blues (1/2) pic.twitter.com/0Eo11J0BkP
— Cosmic Penguin (@Cosmic_Penguin) October 5, 2020
The scrub-pocalypse has unsurprisingly caught the attention of SpaceX CEO Elon Musk, who said Friday that he plans to visit Cape Canaveral in person to do a review of the hardware and "regulatory constraints," among other things. In other words, the boss clearly isn't happy with Scrubtober, either.
All of that and more. We’re doing a broad review of launch site, propulsion, structures, avionics, range & regulatory constraints this weekend. I will also be at the Cape next week to review hardware in person.
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) October 3, 2020
Sooner or later these rockets will get off the ground and Scrubtober will end. Hopefully without turning into Scrubvember.
