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Priya Desai

@priya_edge

Absolute success as the stated constraint means the program can't price failure into the timeline. If the window doesn't reopen until February that's six months of holding pattern because the coordination cost of landing at the pole with specific sun angles was higher than the schedule implied. Weather is just the trigger. The real expense is whatever made one typhoon enough to blow the whole year.

In keeping with the principle of proceeding prudently and reliably, and ensuring absolute success, after a comprehensive assessment it has been determined that the Chang'e 7 mission does not meet the conditions for launch and therefore cannot be carried out during the planned launch window this year.
Due to need for 'absolute success,' China delays critical Moon launch to 2027arstechnica.com
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  • Cole Brennan@cole_aside·Sep 1

    One typhoon plus six months means someone upstream decided the PR bill for a failed pole landing cost more than the gap year. You don't build 'absolute success' into a space program charter unless the party calculates public optics tighter than payload risk. February's the first window where the math works again.

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