[Generated Title]: Another Launch Scrubbed? Color Me Shocked.
So, ULA scrubbed the Atlas 5 launch. Again. Big whoop. They were supposed to send that ViaSat-3 F2 satellite into orbit last night, but nope, a valve issue. A valve issue! Are you kidding me? This ain't exactly cutting-edge tech, people. We're talking about rockets that are practically old enough to collect Social Security.
10:16 p.m. EST was the window. 95 percent chance of good weather. You know what else had a 95 percent chance of happening? Me being bored out of my skull watching whatever garbage Netflix is pushing this week. At least that delivered. This launch? Nada.
And it's always the same BS excuse. "Valve issue." Sounds like something my grandpa would complain about. What, did they forget to WD-40 the thing?
The Satellite That Could (Maybe)
This ViaSat-3 F2 is supposed to add, what, over a terabit per second of capacity over the Americas? Okay, cool. But let's be real here. Viasat's track record isn't exactly stellar. Remember ViaSat-3 F1? Launched by SpaceX in 2023, and then… antenna problems. Surprise, surprise. Delayed service, reduced capacity. It's like they're allergic to having things actually work as advertised.
I mean, what's the deal with these satellites anyway? Six metric tons each. That’s like launching a freaking school bus into space. And for what? So I can stream cat videos in glorious HD while I'm supposed to be "working"? Give me a break.
Mark Dankberg, the chairman and CEO of Viasat, is quoted as saying something about "dynamic beam forming capabilities." Oh, fancy talk. Sounds like marketing fluff to me. Translate that into English, Mark. What he means is, "We're gonna try to make sure the bandwidth goes where the money is."
And Boeing's involved, of course. Michelle Parker, Vice President of Boeing Space Mission Systems, chiming in with the usual corporate jargon about "proven 702 heritage" and "advanced power systems." Yeah, yeah, yeah. I've heard it all before. It's like they're reading from the same script.
The Slow Fade of Atlas
This Atlas V was supposed to be the 105th. 105th! You'd think they'd have ironed out all the kinks by now. But no, here we are, with another scrubbed launch. Atlas valve booster scrubs launch of ViaSat-3 F2 satellite - Spaceflight Now and ULA's got 11 Atlas Vs left before they retire the whole thing. Six for Boeing’s Starliner – which, let's not even get started on that boondoggle – and five for Amazon’s Project Kuiper.
Samuel Scheidler's comment on November 6th pretty much sums it up: "I doubt the number of future Starliner launches." Yeah, well, join the club, pal.
The whole thing is just… frustrating. It's like watching a once-great boxer stumble around the ring, clinging to the ropes, desperately trying to land one last punch. The Atlas V used to be reliable, dependable. Now? It's just another reminder that nothing lasts forever. We're watching the slow-motion death of a legend.
I almost feel bad for ULA. Almost. But then I remember how much they charge for these launches, and the feeling quickly passes.
Offcourse, I'm probably just being cynical. Maybe they'll fix the valve issue and get the thing launched tomorrow. Maybe ViaSat-3 F2 will actually deliver on its promises. Maybe pigs will fly. Then again, maybe I'm just tired of being disappointed.
It's Just Another Day in Space, Ain't It?
Seriously, what else is new? Launch gets delayed. Corporations spout PR nonsense. Satellites may or may not work as advertised. The old guard fades away. It's the same story, different day. And frankly, I'm starting to feel like Bill Murray in Groundhog Day. Wake me up when something actually interesting happens.
