XPost: sci.physics, sci.space.policy   
   From: Vulch@vulch.org   
      
   In message    
             Jeff Findley  wrote:   
      
    > I used to be an SSTO fan, but that was 20 years ago.  SSTO only makes   
    > sense at very high flight rates (much higher than today).  The tracking   
    > equipment at Cape Canaveral currently takes several days to reconfigure.   
    > So we can't currently launch once per day.   
      
   SpaceX are now flying with new range safety equipment that removes the   
   need for most of the ground tracking equipment. Recently they did a   
   static fire and launch either side of an Atlas V launch which would   
   normally have required two full resets, but it was possible to leave   
   most equipment configured for the Atlas.   
      
   Much of the delay in reconfiguring is apparently down to repositioning   
   mobile units. They need packing up, moving, redeploying and checking out   
   each time, and some of their electronics is rumoured to still be valve   
   based.   
      
               Anthony   
      
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