back to article US govt shutdown lobs spanner in SpaceX's Falcon Heavy launch

SpaceX's Falcon Heavy maiden launch, pencilled in for the end of this month, is set to be delayed due to the ongoing US government shutdown. Since Friday night, all federal agencies have suspended non-essential work as congressfolk bicker over budget cuts, increases, and allocations. The Senate today inched closer to passing a …

  1. JeffyPoooh
    Pint

    Do they still get paid?

    The laid-off boffins and so on.

    I expect that the answer is "no".

    1. Anonymous Coward
      Anonymous Coward

      Re: Do they still get paid?

      They do actually, congress passed a law a few years ago after the last shutdown. They don't get paid until the government reopens though.

      1. Yet Another Anonymous coward Silver badge

        Re: Do they still get paid?

        Govt employees do (or at least they did last time) but all the civilian contractors and support don't (at least the ones that can't hide the extra billable hours)

        1. Robert Helpmann??
          Childcatcher

          Re: Do they still get paid?

          ...all the civilian contractors and support don't (at least the ones that can't hide the extra billable hours)

          This is simply not the case. If the contract calls for you to be there, you will report to work and get paid for it. Remember that contractors get paid by the company they work for which in turn is paid by the government in advance. As long as there are funds in the coffers, then pay will go out. The exceptions are in situations where physical access or direct government supervision is required to perform the job when those things are not available and when a shutdown goes on long enough that the company no longer can pay the employees.

          For most IT work during this recent shutdown, contractors worked remotely and did not need direct supervision to function, so life went on relatively normally.

  2. unwarranted triumphalism

    So that's another criminal enterprise that's been - deservedly - shut down.

    1. Steve Foster
      Joke

      @unwarranted triumphalism

      Which, NASA or the US Air Force?

  3. Voland's right hand Silver badge

    Long live marketing

    Falcon Heavy: 63.8 tons to LEO

    Energia: 100 tons to LEO

    Saturn V: 140 tons to LEO

    "The heavily delayed Falcon Heavy, which will be the most powerful commercial rocket yet flown". Cute, real cute. The word "commercial" quite clearly was put on purpose there. A marketing purpose.

    1. Anonymous Coward
      Anonymous Coward

      Re: Long live marketing

      And of course you can pull a bigger rocket than that from out your ass.

    2. Holtsmark Silver badge

      Re: Long live marketing

      And when do you expect the next Energia or Saturn V launch to take place?

    3. PleebSmasher

      Re: Long live marketing

      Falcon Heavy: 63.8 tons to LEO

      SLS Block 1: 70 tons to LEO

      BFR: 150-250 tons to LEO

      SLS Block 2 (years after BFR flies): 130 tons to LEO

      Fixed that for you.

      1. diodesign (Written by Reg staff) Silver badge

        Re: Re: Long live marketing

        SLS is non-commercial (NASA). BFR doesn't exist. This is pretty black and white, ppl.

        C.

    4. Anonymous Coward
      Anonymous Coward

      Re: Long live marketing

      It's worth pointing out that Falcon Heavy isn't just designed for LEO. So yeah, Saturn V could carry 140 tons, but couldn't carry it very far.

      1. Sorry that handle is already taken. Silver badge

        Re: Long live marketing

        It's worth pointing out that Falcon Heavy isn't just designed for LEO.

        Neither was Saturn V...

        Saturn V could carry 140 tons, but couldn't carry it very far.

        Both being LEO figures, Saturn V could lift 140 tonnes precisely as far as Falcon Heavy is designed to lift 64 tonnes.

    5. This post has been deleted by its author

    6. FlossyThePig

      Re: Long live marketing

      Long live Lyons Electronic Office!

  4. Long John Brass
    Alien

    I told Elon he would regret...

    Not buying the Evil Lair from EvilLairs.com

    Then he could be launching the Falcon-Heavy from his very own "Secret Base"(tm) in a burned out volcano!

    1. Anonymous Coward
      Anonymous Coward

      Re: I told Elon he would regret...

      Evil lairs may work well in comic books, but in real life they just attract superheroes.

      1. Anonymous Coward
        Coat

        Re: I told Elon he would regret...

        You are saying they don't in comic books?

        1. Anonymous Coward
          Anonymous Coward

          Re: I told Elon he would regret...

          > "You are saying they don't in comic books?"

          Well yes, of course, but comic book lairs practically blow themselves up, making the superheroes almost redundant.

          Hmmm, in Musk's case that might be true in the real world too...

          1. Yet Another Anonymous coward Silver badge

            Re: I told Elon he would regret...

            But if he had an evil lair it would need a monorail - and who is going to build one ?

            1. Gordon 10

              Re: I told Elon he would regret...

              Who needs a mono rail when you have a Hyperloop?

              Personally my life will be complete when he builds a Mole Machine to dig Hyperloop tunnels.

      2. Long John Brass

        Re: I told Elon he would regret...

        Evil lairs may work well in comic books, but in real life they just attract superheroes.

        You could always use the super heroes has a test launch mass :)

        1. John Brown (no body) Silver badge

          Re: I told Elon he would regret...

          "You could always use the super heroes has a test launch mass :)"

          You won't get me to talk Musk!

          I don't expect you to talk Mr Bond. I expect you to launch into LEO.

          (fondles pussy)

    2. Flocke Kroes Silver badge

      Re: I told Elon he would regret...

      He has a launch site on Omelek Island, but it can only handle Falcon 1s.

      1. Neil Barnes Silver badge

        Re: I told Elon he would regret...

        >> He has a launch site on Omelek Island, but it can only handle Falcon 1s.

        Well, I suppose you can't make omeleks without breaking eggs...

  5. Youngone Silver badge

    Slightly Offtopic

    What kind of a way is that to run a country?

    I mean come on!

    1. Sorry that handle is already taken. Silver badge

      Re: Slightly Offtopic

      The American Way™

      1. Steve Aubrey
        Mushroom

        Re: Slightly Offtopic

        Comes down to who has the biggest lung capacity - a showdown of who can hold their breaths the longest. Not the best, but better than fistfights on the floor of the House and the Senate (contrast Taiwan's parliament).

        Icon because they haven't gone that far. Yet.

        1. Anonymous Coward
          Anonymous Coward

          Re: Slightly Offtopic

          My brother living in Taiwan says th the weekly national legislative gathering is referred to as "Fight night."

    2. Yet Another Anonymous coward Silver badge

      Re: Slightly Offtopic

      What kind of a way is that to run a country?

      Have you tried turning it off and on again ?

      1. Anonymous Coward
        Anonymous Coward

        Re: Slightly Offtopic

        > "Have you tried turning it off and on again ?"

        Congress just tried that. Didn't work.

    3. phuzz Silver badge

      Re: Slightly Offtopic

      Can you expect better from a country that doesn't even have a healthcare system?

  6. imanidiot Silver badge
    Black Helicopters

    It would be comical...

    If it wasn't for the hundreds of thousands of US government workers who now have to wonder how they're going to pay the bills on time. The next pay check might come to late, and banks don't really care about shutdowns. This situation sucks for all those who do anything actually useful. Let's hope the "people" at the top levels can figure it out soon.

    => I wonder if those guys are flying...

  7. Dr Scrum Master

    It's that time of the year again...

  8. Jonathon Green
    Go

    I like Americans...

    ...they’re funny!

  9. Anonymous Coward
    Anonymous Coward

    Does the avoidance of the shutdown mean that Elon, peace be upon him, will still be able to use it as excuse for late delivery or an unsuccessful flight? I suspect that all Eloneans will attribute any problem to this.

    1. Anonymous Coward
      Anonymous Coward

      "Eloneans"? What, "Muskovites" wasn't good enough?

      1. Anonymous Coward
        Anonymous Coward

        Hey Big John, I hadn't seen that before to describe the followers of Elon, peace be upon him. I will use that from now on.

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