Air Force: Budget uncertainty threatens Cape Canaveral rocket launches

Before a rocket blasts off from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, a system drenches the launch pad with water to cool it down from the gas and flames bellowing out of engines firing with a million pounds of thrust or more.

If that water supply failed, the rockets couldn’t launch.

That’s why Pump Station 7 is a top priority among the 85 projects the 45th Space Wing has tackled during a two-week maintenance period expected to close the Eastern Range through Friday, Dec. 1.

It’s the kind of work the Wing's commander considers vital to supporting the Cape’s growing launch rate — projected to reach nearly 50 annually within five years — but it could be derailed, he fears, if Congress and the White House fail to compromise on a budget deal.

[Launch of SpaceX Falcon Heavy rocket from KSC delayed to 2018]

[NASA to reuse SpaceX rocket for next ISS cargo launch]

“Without that, the Wing will suffer the impact from that as we try to defend the nation,” Brig. Gen. Wayne Monteith told FLORIDA TODAY. “And for us, defending the nation is getting capability on orbit. Our military cannot fight without space assets. That’s why we say, 'Control of the battlefield begins here.'"

A stopgap federal budget is set to expire Dec. 8. On Tuesday, Nov. 28, Democratic Senate leaders pulled out of a White House meeting aimed at averting a government shutdown, after President Trump sent a tweet mocking them.

A likely short-term budget extension, known as a continuing resolution or CR, would buy time to negotiate a new spending package for the budget year ending Sept. 30, 2018.

Without a deal, in a worst-case scenario, the government would shut down, as it did for 16 days in 2013. Then only about 900 uniformed personnel — a quarter of the 45th Space Wing’s work force — would report to work until the shutdown ended. (NASA's Kennedy Space Center also would be affected.)

Or, if the continuing resolution were extended through the remainder of the budget year, freezing spending at last year’s levels, it would trigger mandatory cuts in defense spending. That, too, would result in furloughs of civilian employees.

“I can’t launch rockets with a quarter of my work force,” said Monteith.

That applies to national security missions and commercial payloads making up an increasing share of the schedule.

With the money now available, Monteith committed to the current two weeks of scheduled maintenance known as “Range recap,” or recapitalization, which is planned twice a year.

The list of 85 projects worth nearly $43 million includes the pump station serving Launch Complexes 40 and 41; electrical and wastewater line improvements; ongoing hurricane repairs; airfield upgrades; and systems supporting Navy tests of submarine-launched ballistic missiles.

In total, more than 200 projects valued at $113 million will have been completed over the last three recap periods.

[The tree supporting KSC's famous bald eagle nest has died]

[Schedule of upcoming Florida rocket launches]

The goal is to avoid a repeat of early 2014, when a fire knocked out a critical tracking radar and grounded launches for several weeks.

Tight budgets had forced the Cape to scale back to what the Air Force called a “minimum essential Range.” Maintenance was cut, and a backup radar mothballed, delaying its availability.

“And then a fire happens and we’re surprised, and it took the Range down for weeks,” said Monteith. “I don’t want to get into that position.”

The Wing has embarked on what Monteith bills the “Drive to 48” — an ability to support up to 48 launches a year, or one a week on average, assuming a month of maintenance downtime. Those numbers could materialize between 2020 and 2023, as Blue Origin starts flying alongside SpaceX, United Launch Alliance, Orbital ATK, NASA and perhaps others.

So far this year, 18 missions have launched from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station or Kennedy Space Center. The 19th is targeted for no earlier than Dec. 8.

“As we go to 20, 25, 30, 35, 48 launches, I can’t have the Range down unexpectedly for three, four, five weeks,” said Monteith. “Just can’t have it happen.”

To improve efficiency, Monteith, who is now mid-way through an unusual third year leading the Wing, has asked partners not to mess with maintenance periods.

For years, dates were blacked out on calendars, but launch companies routinely asked and were allowed to launch during those windows. Maintenance got spread out and ended up costing more.

Now the Range gives customers a say in when it will close months in advance. Late requests for changes are met with skepticism.

“They know it’s got to be absolutely critical to the company or national security for them to walk into that,” said Monteith.

The “Drive to 48” also aims to reduce the Range’s reliance on aging, costly infrastructure like the tracking radar damaged by fire a few years ago, by gradually shifting to mobile platforms.

A mobile radar, for example, could be rolled into a hangar or away from the Space Coast if a hurricane approached. Now, teams “bird bath” big dishes — pointing their antennas straight up — and hope for the best.

Continued budget uncertainty threatens to stall such new projects, costing taxpayers more in the long run, Monteith said.

“It’s the budget instability that kills us,” he said. “My ask is, approve the budget.”

Contact Dean at 321-242-3668 or jdean@floridatoday.com. And follow on Twitter at @flatoday_jdean and on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/SpaceTeamGo.