Because this question is asked so often...
Astropulse work units are fewer in number than Multibeam, and are split from the same data.
When a new "tape" is loaded the first thing to be split are the Astopulse units, which happens quite rapidly because they are larger, and less difficult to split. These are "gobbled up" with a very short period of time.
"Tapes" are loaded in batches, so there is always going to be a feast/famine cycle.

---

Bob Smith
Member of Seti PIPPS (Pluto is a Planet Protest Society)
Somewhere in the (un)known Universe?