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Basically, they need 3 tracking assets and only have 2 because of a fire in a key tracking radar. The power supply shorted.
NO easy fix as this is a late 1980's to early 1990's system with few replacements.
There is no quick fix at this point. Navy and Coast Guard ships are unable to reproduce the radars function.
SpaceX is exploring some options for its coming CRS-3 flight to the ISS but that's still in the black. The USAF is also scrambling because of upcoming Atlas V NRO launches.
BTW: there was a recent presentation at the AIAA about the crumbling infrastructure, with a large number of key assets old enough that they're no longer in production.
One long term fix is movimg to GPS tracking instead of these old radars, but that move is early on. Another conference takes place soon,
As for SpaceX; the Univetsity of Texas at Brownsville is building a modern tracking and radio observatory near where SpaceX wants to build their commercial spaceport.
NO easy fix as this is a late 1980's to early 1990's system with few replacements.
There is no quick fix at this point. Navy and Coast Guard ships are unable to reproduce the radars function.
SpaceX is exploring some options for its coming CRS-3 flight to the ISS but that's still in the black. The USAF is also scrambling because of upcoming Atlas V NRO launches.
BTW: there was a recent presentation at the AIAA about the crumbling infrastructure, with a large number of key assets old enough that they're no longer in production.
One long term fix is movimg to GPS tracking instead of these old radars, but that move is early on. Another conference takes place soon,
As for SpaceX; the Univetsity of Texas at Brownsville is building a modern tracking and radio observatory near where SpaceX wants to build their commercial spaceport.
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