[mikejb]

This is easily blamed on the shutdown, but it isn't that simple: Falcon Heavy static fire has been postponed numerous times. On Tuesday (Jan 16th), it was cancelled once again, but with no new target test date. That indicates that SpaceX is still working on the rocket/pad.

I didn't find information on when they'd be ready again, but blaming a delay on Falcon Heavy's static fire test on the Government Shutdown is only half the truth.

[greglindahl]

SpaceX had activities planned for Sunday and Monday which have been canceled. New rockets and new launch pads (2/3 of the booster fueling equipment is new) are always like this; the first shuttle flight sat on the pad from December through April. It's very tedious for the range people because both fueling the rocket (wet dress rehearsal) and fueling and static firing it are dangerous events that require exclusion zones.

[mabbo]

Every time they've cancelled the static fire, it's for a reason they've found not to do it. It's small, incremental steps and they knew it would take this many to get there.

The point is that with the government shut down they cannot continue to make those incremental steps anymore. It's a shame because today could have been the last of those little steps. We'll find out when the elected officials stop acting like children I suppose.

[ygra]

They did go through with a Wet Dress Rehearsal on Saturday, though, which already validates many things just prior to engine ignition. So if they were confident to continue with a static fire on Monday and there were no other issues known I'd say it's fair to blame it on the shutdown. Of course, more issues could arise during the test, but we won't know now.

[moonka]

Shutdown started at Midnight Friday though didn't it?

[freeflight]

Officially yes, but I can imagine there being some bureaucratic delay until it's in full effect/everybody got the news. Not a lot of time between midnight Friday and Saturday.

In German radio news, the US correspondent explained that the weekend should still be fine, with full effects of the shutdown beginning around Monday with the new week.

[mikeash]

That’s oversimplified. Some agencies continue to operate for a bit because they have enough money stashed to do so. For example, the Smithsonian stayed open over the weekend and is apparently open today as well. The EPA will stay open for another week because they apparently have a nice chunk of cash somewhere. The postal service will operate indefinitely because they earn their own money.

For everybody else, a shutdown means you stop working right away. For most people that means the first day they’re affected is Monday because most of them have the weekend off, but people who would work on the weekend have already been affected. There’s no room for a bureaucratic delay or people failing to get the news. I’m pretty sure it’s illegal for non-essential people to work during the shutdown unless their job is somehow still funded. Anyone who went to bed early on Friday and went to work on Saturday without checking the news would be told to go home.

[thaumasiotes]

> For everybody else, a shutdown means you stop working right away.

This is not correct; for many a shutdown means you keep working entirely as normal on the understanding that when things are resolved, you'll get paid retroactively.

[mikeash]

You’re right, I forgot to mention that people deemed “essential” in any agency keep on working anyway.

[fhood]

Thank god for usps.

[ateesdalejr]

Neither snow, nor rain, nor heat, nor gloom of night, nor government shutdown stays these couriers from the swift completion of their appointed rounds.

[dragonwriter]

The bureaucratic prep for a potential shutdown (including identification of essential personnel and functions that are exempt) usually happens in advance; if you missed the memo and you aren't exempt, the whole “not being allowed to work” thing will catch you up on the key relevant bits for you right quick.

> In German radio news, the US correspondent explained that the weekend should still be fine, with full effects of the shutdown beginning around Monday with the new week

That's just a way of saying most (but not all) non-essential functions run on a normal workweek, so are effectively mostly “shutdown” on the weekend anyway.

[dx034]

But that was because few people work on the weekend anyway. Anyone affected working on the weekend knew that they wouldn't get paid.

[freeflight]

> Anyone affected working on the weekend knew that they wouldn't get paid.

They knew that, for certain, only after Friday midnight. It's not that far-fetched to assume that most people working that Saturday would already be asleep during that time and just showed up at their work on Saturday like it's business as usual.

[SiempreViernes]

Gotta be a weird person not to check the outcome on the news before going to work since they've been plenty forewarned.

I guess someone living close by, that woke up late and doesn't have radio, tv, or internet available for a quick check could plausibly skip over calling someone to find out before jogging over.

[the_watcher]

> with full effects of the shutdown beginning around Monday with the new week.

That's just because most government services are always off on the weekend, not because of a delay. The news was distributed widely and broadly near instantly.

[someguydave]

Maybe SpaceX knew that this would be a golden opportunity to to blame their own problems on the government and therefore set the stage for blaming them...

[Rebelgecko]

They can blame the shutdown for cancelling this particular attempt, just not the last half a dozen tries

[andygates]

They've had a bunch of delays, and this is BAU for a new rocket's maiden flight, but the upcoming scheduled test is delayed because of the shutdown.