The government shutdown isn't just affecting federal agencies, such as NASA. It's altering the plans of private sector spaceflight companies, such as SpaceX, too.
SpaceX, the Elon Musk-founded company, was initially planning to launch the maiden flight of its huge new Falcon Heavy rocket at the end of January. However, that timeline is looking more uncertain thanks to the government shutdown.
The company was set to perform a test firing of the Falcon Heavy this weekend at Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Florida, in preparation for its first flight. But due to the government shutdown, it wasn't able to.
SEE ALSO:2018 needs to be the year of private spaceflight companies fulfilling their past promisesSpaceX is a private company, but it has launched government payloads, including spy satellites. Delaying its rocket development could have national security consequences, the company warned.
"This shutdown impacts SpaceX’s Falcon Heavy demonstration, which is critical for future NSS [National Security Strategy] missions," SpaceX spokesperson John Taylor said in an emailed statement.
It's unclear exactly how much the shutdown will delay SpaceX's planned Falcon Heavy or Falcon 9 operations.
If the shutdown does continue into next week, it will almost certainly affect the company's planned launch of a communications satellite for Luxembourg.
It's also possible that the shutdown could affect launches servicing the International Space Station, if it stretches on even longer.
The shutdown "...impacts critical missions for our customers, including important international allies scheduled to launch shortly from Cape Canaveral and Vandenberg Air Force Base, as well as upcoming missions this spring to resupply the International Space Station," Taylor said.
“We remain hopeful that the Congress will quickly resolve their differences and put our partners in the Air Force and NASA back to doing their important work as soon as possible."
NASA is, of course, feeling the stress of the government shutdown.
On Monday morning, the space agency started sending out tweets from various social media accounts explaining that those feeds wouldn't be updated during the shutdown. All agency-hosted events at centers around the country are also cancelled until further notice.
Via GiphyNASA, however, will continue to support International Space Station operations from the ground at Johnson Space Center in Houston.
Astronauts Mark Vande Hei and Scott Tingle are expected to head outside the Space Station for a spacewalk -- one of the most dangerous activities an astronaut can do -- on Tuesday.
Even if the government is still shutdown, that walk will continue on as scheduled, as it's essential to Space Station operations.
That said, there's a chance that members of the public won't be able watch the spacewalk as it happens.
Usually, NASA will broadcast spacewalks live, but due to the shutdown, they may not be able to. According to the agency's shutdown plan, first published in 2017, NASA-TV is expected to be taken offline during a shutdown.
TopicsSpaceXElon MuskPolitics
(责任编辑：綜合)
Man stumbles upon his phone background in real life
Crotch charms to add to your bikini are surely a recipe for disaster
520 elephants have new, safer homes thanks to a record relocation effort
Elon Musk's SpaceX launches and lands a Falcon 9 rocket in Florida
What brands need to know about virtual realityThis company is hiring someone just to drink all day
For the non-Don Drapers among us, drinking at work is a far-off fantasy. But UK company ILoveGin wan
...[详细]Burger King Russia apparently invented its own silly digital currency called Whoppercoin
Burger King Russia is apparently getting into the cryptocurrency game -- sort of.The chain has repor
...[详细]'Game of Thrones' fans have a huge theory about Arya's endgame
Warning: Contains stealthy spoilers for Game of ThronesSeason 7, episode 6.Arya had so much potentia
...[详细]Mercury is in retrograde and Drake is wearing socks with Rihanna on them
Last week, Rihanna unveiled her Fenty x Stance sock collection, featuring four flawless sock styles
...[详细]MashReads Podcast: What makes a good summer read?
Summer is coming to a close and that means one thing -- last-minute vacations! 。SEE ALSO:'Ice Cream B
...[详细]Naomi Campbell calls out former Vogue editor for the magazine's lack of diversity
British Vogue has been no stranger to criticism of late. And, Naomi Campbell has just come for the f
...[详细]Apple might have finally scheduled the day it will unveil the iPhone 8
Apple has reportedly settled on the date for its highly anticipated fall keynote where we'll finally
...[详细]All hail King Jon Targaryen, first of his name: Why you should support Jon Snow for the Iron Throne
Yes, you have good reasons to dislike Jon Snow. He keeps being promoted beyond his ability. He made
...[详细]The U.S. will no longer have the final say on internet domain names
The National Telecommunications Information Admistration (NTIA) announced via
。 blog post 。on Tuesday
...[详细]A former CIA agent is crowdfunding an attempt to buy Twitter just to ban Trump
UPDATEDAug. 24, 2017 3:45 pm ET: Updated to include comments by Plame and new fundraiser totals.Ever
...[详细]What brands need to know about virtual reality
'Game of Thrones' fan has a theory on the ultimate Season 8 alliance
