Business Insider by Kate Duffy 8/25/2021
SpaceX's president says liquid oxygen shortages are making it harder to launch rockets - and that people should email her if they have any spare
• SpaceX president Gwynne Shotwell said the company was low on liquid oxygen for rocket launches.
• Liquid oxygen is also used to treat COVID-19 patients in hospitals.
• "We certainly are going to make sure hospitals have the liquid oxygen they need," Shotwell said.
SpaceX President Gwynne Shotwell said on Tuesday that liquid oxygen shortages were making it more difficult to launch rockets — and that people should email her if they have some spare.
Liquid oxygen is key to getting SpaceX's rockets off the ground. The substance, combined with cryogenic liquid methane, fuels SpaceX's raptor engines, which provide the thrust required for liftoff.
It's also required in hospitals to treat patients infected with COVID-19, as well as for water treatment, and supplies are running low. On Friday, the city of Orlando asked residents to limit their water use so that it could divert more liquid oxygen to hospitals.
More:
https://www.businessinsider.com/liquid-oxygen-shortage-covid-spacex-gwynne-shotwell-impact-rocket-launches-2021-8
