posted 04-01-2011 09:30 AM               

Please use this topic to discuss SpaceX's Falcon Heavy rocket, the company's entry into the heavy-lift launch vehicle category.

posted 04-01-2011 09:32 AM               

It appears the announcement relates to their Falcon Heavy, which SpaceX describes as follows:

The Falcon Heavy will be SpaceX’s entry into the heavy lift launch vehicle category. Capable of lifting over 32,000 kg to Low Earth Orbit (LEO), and over 19,500 kg to Geostationary Transfer Orbit (GTO), the Falcon Heavy will compete with the largest commercial launchers now available. It consists of a standard Falcon 9 with two additional Falcon 9 first stages acting as liquid strap-on boosters. With the Falcon 9 first stage already designed to support the additional loads of this configuration and with common tanking and engines across both vehicles, development and operation of the Falcon Heavy will be highly cost-effective.

• Length: 54.9 m (180 ft)
  
• Width: 3.6 m (12 ft)
  
• Mass: 885,000 kg (1,950 klb)
  
• Thrust on liftoff: 15 MN (3,375 klbf)

posted 04-05-2011 11:46 AM               

Falcon Heavy will carry more payload to orbit or escape velocity than any vehicle in history, apart from the Saturn V moon rocket, which was decommissioned after the Apollo program.

posted 01-27-2015 01:32 PM               

Updated animation of Falcon Heavy flight and booster recovery.

posted 01-27-2015 02:31 PM               

SpaceX's proposed landing site at the Cape is Complex 13, which is located away from populated areas. A recent environmental assessment noted:

Should there be a need to activate the FTS, it would occur over the open ocean and would result in a much smaller explosion and less debris.

...an anomaly on the landing pads such as an explosion could injure or kill wildlife found adjacent to the launch pad or within debris impact areas. However payloads would not be involved and the fuel load would be substantially less than a typical launch.

An improbable mishap from downrange would occur over the open ocean and would not likely jeopardize any wildlife, given the relatively low density of species within the surface waters of these open ocean areas. Debris from launch failures has a small potential to adversely affect managed fish species and their habitats in the vicinity of the project area.

posted 12-28-2016 06:40 PM               

When Falcon Heavy flies for the first time next year, it will be the most powerful operational rocket in the world by a factor of two. Here's an FH interstage being prepped at the rocket factory recently.

posted 12-05-2018 08:16 AM            

I also seem to remember Elon Musk talking about a second launch between July - October, 2018. Why the delay? I realise there may have been technical issues arising from the first launch needing resolved; or perhaps some planned customer got cold feet. There are clearly many potential problems in developing a new rocket. I just like to keep track of how things are progressing, and SpaceX don't seem to be bending over backwards to do that.

posted 12-05-2018 09:40 AM               

quote:

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Originally posted by Blackarrow:
You may be a better internet searcher than I am, but I couldn't see any of that on the SpaceX Falcon Heavy page.

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SpaceX also stated prior to the launch of the Falcon Heavy that they had found the development of the vehicle to be more difficult than originally thought, and that the learning experience of Falcon Heavy led to their change of plans and the intention to focus on the BFR design.

The space industry also seems to have taken up cubesat technology that often piggyback other mission launch vehicles, meaning the Falcon Heavy, heavy lift performance, may be a somewhat niche ability that may not be required with any regularity.

Combine this with SpaceX prioritizing Crew Dragon preparation and BFR development could mean that SpaceX may be busy with other things.

posted 12-06-2018 06:29 AM            

quote:

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Originally posted by oly:
I count five future Falcon Heavy missions

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posted 04-08-2019 04:31 AM               

Static fire of Falcon Heavy complete — targeting April 9 launch of Arabsat-6A from Launch Complex 39A in Florida.

posted 04-08-2019 03:44 PM               

Now targeting Falcon Heavy launch of Arabsat-6A on Wednesday, April 10 – weather forecast improves to 80% favorable.

posted 04-10-2019 04:27 PM               

Falcon Heavy and Arabsat-6A are vertical on Launch Complex 39A. Currently targeting liftoff at 8:00 p.m. EDT; monitoring upper-level winds that could push us to the end of the window (8:32 p.m. EDT).

posted 04-10-2019 06:37 PM               

Standing down from today’s Falcon Heavy launch attempt; next opportunity is tomorrow, April 11.

posted 04-11-2019 05:24 PM               

All systems and weather are currently go ahead of tonight's Falcon Heavy launch of Arabsat-6A from Pad 39A; launch window opens at 6:35 p.m. EDT, or 22:35 UTC.

posted 04-15-2019 04:03 PM               

Over the weekend, due to rough sea conditions, SpaceX's recovery team was unable to secure the center core booster for its return trip to Port Canaveral. As conditions worsened with eight to ten foot swells, the booster began to shift and ultimately was unable to remain upright. While we had hoped to bring the booster back intact, the safety of our team always takes precedence. We do not expect future missions to be impacted.

posted 06-24-2019 12:24 PM               

The primary launch window opens at 11:30 p.m. EDT, or 3:30 a.m. UTC on June 25, and closes at 3:30 a.m. EDT on June 25, or 7:30 a.m. UTC. A backup launch window opens on June 25 at 11:30 p.m. EDT, or 3:30 a.m. UTC on June 26, and closes at 3:30 a.m. EDT on June 26, or 7:30 a.m. UTC. Deployments will begin approximately 12 minutes after liftoff and end approximately 3 hours and 32 minutes after liftoff.

Falcon Heavy's side boosters for the STP-2 mission previously supported the Arabsat-6A mission in April 2019. Following booster separation, Falcon Heavy's two side boosters will attempt to land at SpaceX's Landing Zones 1 and 2 (LZ-1 and LZ-2) at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida. Falcon Heavy's center core will attempt to land on the "Of Course I Still Love You" droneship, which will be stationed in the Atlantic Ocean.

posted 06-24-2019 09:29 PM               

Targeting T-0 of 2:30 a.m. EDT for Falcon Heavy launch of STP-2; team completed additional ground system checkouts. Vehicle and payload continue to look good.

posted 06-25-2019 01:48 AM               

Falcon Heavy's side boosters have landed at SpaceX Landing Zones 1 and 2!

Elon Musk also confirmed successful recovery of one half of the fairing by the recovery ship "Ms. Tree":

Ms. Tree caught the Falcon fairing!!

posted 06-25-2019 02:14 PM               

Does anyone have an idea what that could be? I don't remember seeing something like that before. (Well, except in the Stargate movie.)

posted 06-26-2019 05:57 PM               

quote:

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Originally posted by Robert Pearlman:
That is a view inside the second stage propellant tank, showing fuel slosh.

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