Space Exploration Technologies (SpaceX) has had its fair share of issues with the media. With the upcoming launch of the Cassiope mission, a new wrinkle has emerged: Media are currently not permitted to attend the liftoff of this historic flight as guests of SpaceX. Cassiope will be the first non-NASA flight of SpaceX’s Falcon 9 rocket (excluding the inaugural test flight of the launch vehicle). Liftoff is currently scheduled to take place Sept. 5 from Vandenberg Air Force Base’s (VAFB) Space Launch Complex 4 in California.
SpaceX initially stated the following regarding this decision:
“We will likely not host media at this launch, per our customer’s wishes. Sorry about that!”
In an effort to understand why SpaceX access to the launch of the Cassiope communications satellite was more restrictive than those carried out on the behalf of the Department of Defense by other launch service providers, AmericaSpace reached out to MacDonald Dettwiller & Associates Inc. (MDA). Although MDA did not respond, SpaceX’s Christina Ra did contact AmericaSpace to clarify the situation.
According to Ra, this event is an anomaly, one which stems from both the wishes of the customer and SpaceX’s situation at Vandenberg. According to Ra, SpaceX’s facilities at VAFB are currently less-developed than those at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida. However, as VAFB is an Air Force installation, the infrastructure to handle the media is established. Indeed, Ra stated later that the Air Force’s Public Affairs Office at Vandenberg would host media per their protocol. Given this is a pivotal launch for SpaceX, it is odd that the Air Force, an entity that has no interest in this particular mission, will apparently be providing a greater level of media access than the two companies directly involved.
Reports have come in that SpaceX will not be allowing them to set up remote cameras at SLC-4, but that VAFB public affairs will escort them to set up remote cameras outside of SLC-4.
[...]
