A super heavy-lift launch vehicle is a rocket that can lift to low Earth orbit a "super heavy payload", which is defined as more than 50 metric tons (110,000 lb) by the United States and as more than 100 metric tons (220,000 lb) by Russia. It is the most capable launch vehicle classification by mass to orbit, exceeding that of the heavy-lift launch vehicle classification .
86-491: Falcon Heavy is a super heavy-lift launch vehicle with partial reusability that can carry cargo into Earth orbit and beyond. It is designed, manufactured and launched by American aerospace company SpaceX . The rocket consists of a center core on which two Falcon 9 boosters are attached, and a second stage on top of the center core. Falcon Heavy has the second highest payload capacity of any currently operational launch vehicle behind NASA 's Space Launch System (SLS), and
172-413: A "super heavy" because recovery of the center core was attempted. ^G Apollo 6 was a "partial failure": It reached orbit, but had problems with the second and third stages. ^I Estimate by third party. ^J Flight 6 entered a Transatmospheric Earth orbit , an orbit, though one that results in rapid decay and reentry. ^K Block 1 boosters were proven to be recoverable in
258-718: A 30-day mission, and two 3U buses, the CubeSat Experiment (QbX), provided by the U.S. National Reconnaissance Office , also expected to remain in orbit for only 30 days. One of the weight ballasts inside the Dragon spacecraft was a metal barrel containing a wheel of French Le Brouère cheese. This cheese is produced in Bulgnéville , Vosges . It was packed as a joke, and references the Cheese Shop sketch from Monty Python's Flying Circus . The barrel's lid
344-660: A Falcon Heavy launch vehicle using three Falcon 1 core boosters, with an approximate payload-to-LEO capacity of two tons, were initially discussed as early as 2003. The concept for three core booster stages of the company's as-yet-unflown Falcon 9 was referred to in 2005 as the Falcon 9 Heavy . SpaceX unveiled the plan for the Falcon Heavy to the public at a Washington, D.C. , news conference in April 2011, with an initial test flight expected in 2013. A number of factors delayed
430-435: A complex launch vehicle like the three-core Falcon Heavy, indicating that a large extent of the new design "is really impossible to test on the ground" and could not be effectively tested independent of actual flight tests . By September 2017, all three first stage cores had completed their static fire tests on the ground test stand. The first Falcon Heavy static fire test was conducted on 24 January 2018. In April 2011, Musk
516-487: A couple of years". Speaking at the 2008 Mars Society Conference, Musk also indicated that he expected a hydrogen-fueled upper stage would follow two to three years later (which would have been around 2013). By April 2011, the capabilities and performance of the Falcon 9 vehicle were better understood, SpaceX having completed two successful demonstration missions to low Earth orbit (LEO), one of which included reignition of
602-480: A few minutes later. However, only one of the three engines on the center booster that were intended to restart ignited during descent, causing the booster to be destroyed upon impacting the ocean at a speed of over 480 km/h (300 mph). Initially, Elon Musk tweeted that the Roadster had overshot its planned heliocentric orbit , and would reach the asteroid belt . Later, observations by telescopes showed that
688-530: A larger launch vehicle. Numerous super-heavy-lift vehicles have been proposed and received various levels of development prior to their cancellation. As part of the Soviet crewed lunar project to compete with Apollo/Saturn V, the N1 rocket was secretly designed with a payload capacity of 95 t (209,000 lb). Four test vehicles were launched from 1969 to 1972, but all failed shortly after lift-off. The program
774-504: A near circular orbit, with a perigee of 288 km (179 mi), an apogee of 301 km (187 mi) and an inclination of 34.53°. These were close to targeted marks of a 300 km (190 mi) circular orbit at an inclination of 34.5°. The Falcon 9 carried a small number of nanosatellites to orbit as well. Included were a total of eight cubesats including the first U.S. Army nanosatellite, Space and Missile Defense Command — Operational Nanosatellite Effect, or SMDC-ONE , for
860-598: A new, partly underground test stand was being built at the SpaceX Rocket Development and Test Facility in McGregor, Texas , specifically to test the triple cores and twenty-seven rocket engines of the Falcon Heavy. By May 2017, SpaceX conducted the first static fire test of flight-design Falcon Heavy center core at the McGregor facility. In July 2017, Musk discussed publicly the challenges of testing
946-669: A nuclear powered variant of the UR-700, and UR-700M, a LOx/Kerosene variant to assemble the 1,400 t (3,100,000 lb) MK-700 spacecraft in earth orbit in two launches. The UR-700M would have a payload capacity of 750 t (1,650,000 lb). The only Universal Rocket to make it past the design phase was the UR-500 while the N1 was selected to be the Soviets' HLV for lunar and Martian missions. The UR-900 , proposed in 1969, would have had
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#17327724021311032-457: A payload capacity of 240 t (530,000 lb) to low earth orbit. It never left the drawing board. The General Dynamics Nexus was proposed in the 1960s as a fully reusable successor to the Saturn V rocket, having the capacity of transporting up to 450–910 t (990,000–2,000,000 lb) to orbit. The American Saturn MLV family of rockets was proposed in 1965 by NASA as successors to
1118-497: A possible option for crew transport. This contract, designed by NASA to provide "seed money" for development of new boosters, paid SpaceX $ 278 million to develop the Falcon 9 launch vehicle, with incentive payments paid at milestones culminating in three demonstration launches. COTS Demo Flight 1 was the first of the launches under this contract. The original agreement with NASA called for the COTS Demo Flight 1 to occur in
1204-610: A price of US$ 2,350 per kg to LEO and US$ 5,620 per kg to GTO. In 2022, the published price for a reusable launch was $ 97 million. In 2022 NASA contracted with SpaceX to launch the Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope on a Falcon Heavy for approximately $ 255 million, including launch service and other mission related costs. The nearest competing U.S. rocket was ULA's Delta IV Heavy with a LEO payload capacity of 28.4 t (63,000 lb) costs US$ 12,340 per kg to LEO and US$ 24,630 per kg to GTO. The Delta IV Heavy
1290-571: A state permitting reuse on Starship flight test 5 , but it was decided they would not be reused regardless. Long March 10 was first proposed in 2018 as a concept for the Chinese Lunar Exploration Program . Long March 9 , an over 150 t (330,000 lb) to LEO capable rocket was proposed in 2018 by China , with plans to launch the rocket by 2028. The length of the Long March-9 will exceed 114 meters, and
1376-425: A total sea-level thrust at liftoff of 22.82 MN (5,130,000 lbf), from the 27 Merlin 1D engines, while thrust rises to 24.68 MN (5,550,000 lbf) as the craft climbs out of the atmosphere. The upper stage is powered by a single Merlin 1D engine modified for vacuum operation, with a thrust of 934 kN (210,000 lbf), an expansion ratio of 117:1 and a nominal burn time of 397 seconds. At launch,
1462-636: Is 35% of the cost of the lowest-cost-per-pound LEO -capable launch system in a 2001 study: the Zenit , a medium-lift launch vehicle that could carry 14 t (31,000 lb) into LEO for US$ 35–50 million. In 2011, SpaceX stated that the cost of reaching low Earth orbit could be as low as $ 2,200/kg ($ 1,000/lb) if an annual rate of four launches can be sustained, and as of 2011 planned to eventually launch as many as 10 Falcon Heavies and 10 Falcon 9s annually. The published prices for Falcon Heavy launches have changed as development progressed, with announced prices for
1548-516: Is a carbon fiber aluminum core composite structure. Stage separation occurs via reusable separation collets and a pneumatic pusher system. The Falcon 9 tank walls and domes are made from Aluminum–lithium alloy . SpaceX uses an all- friction stir welded tank. The second stage tank of Falcon 9 is simply a shorter version of the first stage tank and uses most of the same tooling, material, and manufacturing techniques. This approach reduces manufacturing costs during vehicle production. All three cores of
1634-762: Is about 122.4 t (270,000 lb). ^B Required upper stage or payload to perform final orbital insertion. ^C Side booster cores recoverable, center core intentionally expended. First re-use of the side boosters was demonstrated in 2019 when the ones used on the Arabsat-6A launch were reused on the STP-2 launch. ^D Includes mass of Orion spacecraft , European Service Module , Interim Cryogenic Propulsion Stage , and propellant for translunar injection . ^E Does not include dry mass of spaceship. ^F Falcon Heavy has launched 11 times since 2018, but first three times did not qualify as
1720-449: Is reduced by the reusable technology, but at a much lower price. When recovering all three booster cores, GTO payload is 8 t (18,000 lb). If only the two outside cores are recovered while the center core is expended, GTO payload would be approximately 16 t (35,000 lb). As a comparison, the next-heaviest contemporary rocket, the fully expendable Delta IV Heavy, could deliver 14.2 t (31,000 lb) to GTO. Falcon Heavy
1806-501: The Atlas V Heavy and Russian Angara A5V . This triple first stage carries a standard Falcon 9 second stage, which in turn carries the payload in a fairing. Falcon Heavy has the second highest lift capability of any operational rocket, with a payload of 63,800 kg (140,700 lb) to low Earth orbit, 26,700 kg (58,900 lb) to Geostationary Transfer Orbit , and 16,800 kg (37,000 lb) to trans-Mars injection . The rocket
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#17327724021311892-615: The Comet HLLV . The Comet would have been capable of injecting 230.8 t (508,800 lb) into low earth orbit and 88.5 t (195,200 lb) on a TLI making it one of the most capable vehicles ever designed. FLO was cancelled during the design process along with the rest of the Space Exploration Initiative . The U.S. Ares V for the Constellation program was intended to reuse many elements of
1978-467: The Falcon 9 first stage , and have successfully recovered multiple payload fairings . In the case of Falcon Heavy, the two outer cores separate from the rocket earlier in the flight, and are thus moving at a lower velocity than in a Falcon 9 launch profile. For the first flight of Falcon Heavy, SpaceX had considered attempting to recover the second stage, but did not execute this plan. Falcon Heavy payload performance to geosynchronous transfer orbit (GTO)
2064-499: The Falcon 9 vehicle family since the 2012 announcement, advertising 8.3 t (18,000 lb) to GTO for its expendable flight profile, enabled the launch of this 6 t satellite without upgrading to a Falcon Heavy variant. In 2014, Inmarsat booked three launches with Falcon Heavy, but due to delays, switched a payload to Ariane 5 for 2017. Similarly to the Intelsat 35e case, another satellite from this contract, Inmarsat 5-F4 ,
2150-627: The National Security Space Launch (NSSL) program. Falcon Heavy was designed to be able to carry humans into space beyond low Earth orbit , although as of February 2018, SpaceX does not intend to transport people on Falcon Heavy, nor pursue the human-rating certification process to transport NASA astronauts . Both Falcon Heavy and Falcon 9 are expected to eventually be superseded by the Starship super-heavy lift launch vehicle, currently being developed. Concepts for
2236-695: The Space Shuttle program, both on the ground and flight hardware, to save costs. The Ares V was designed to carry 188 t (414,000 lb) and was cancelled in 2010. The Shuttle-Derived Heavy Lift Launch Vehicle ("HLV") was an alternate super heavy-lift launch vehicle proposal for the NASA Constellation program, proposed in 2009. A 1962 design proposal, Sea Dragon , called for an enormous 150 m (490 ft) tall, sea-launched rocket capable of lifting 550 t (1,210,000 lb) to low Earth orbit. Although preliminary engineering of
2322-753: The Space Test Program 2 (STP-2) mission for Falcon Heavy, originally scheduled to be launched in March 2017, to be placed at a near circular orbit at an altitude of 700 km (430 mi), with an inclination of 70.0°. Super heavy-lift launch vehicle Only 14 such payloads were successfully launched before 2022: 12 as part of the Apollo program before 1972 and two Energia launches, in 1987 and 1988. Most planned crewed lunar and interplanetary missions depend on these launch vehicles. Several super heavy-lift launch vehicle concepts were produced in
2408-533: The U.S. Space Force certified Falcon Heavy for launching its top secret satellites, with the first such launch being USSF-44 which happened at 1 November 2022; and the second of which being USSF-67, which was launched 11 weeks after USSF-44. ViaSat selected the Falcon Heavy in late 2018 for the launch of its ViaSat-3 satellite which was scheduled to launch in the 2020–2022 timeframe; however it would not launch until 1 May 2023. On 13 October 2023, Falcon Heavy embarked on its 8th flight carrying NASA's Psyche probe to
2494-453: The U.S. government shutdown that began on 20 January 2018 , the testing and launch were further delayed. The static fire test was conducted on 24 January 2018. Musk confirmed via Twitter that the test "was good" and later announced the rocket would be launched on 6 February 2018. On 6 February 2018, after a delay of over two hours due to high winds, Falcon Heavy lifted off at 20:45 UTC. Its side boosters landed safely on Landing Zones 1 and 2
2580-518: The United States Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation , Musk testified, "Long term plans call for development of a heavy lift product and even a super-heavy, if there is customer demand. We expect that each size increase would result in a meaningful decrease in cost per pound to orbit. ... Ultimately, I believe US$ 500 per pound or less is very achievable". This $ 1,100/kg ($ 500/lb) goal stated by Musk in 2011
2666-739: The 1960s, including the Sea Dragon . During the Space Race , the Saturn V and N1 were built by the United States and Soviet Union, respectively. After the Saturn V's successful Apollo program and the N1's failures, the Soviets' Energia launched twice in the 1980s, once bearing the Buran spaceplane . The next two decades saw multiple concepts drawn out once again, most notably Space Shuttle-derived vehicles and Rus-M , but none were built. In
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2752-643: The 2010s, super heavy-lift launch vehicles received interest once again, leading to the launch of the Falcon Heavy , the Space Launch System , and Starship , and the beginning of development of the Long March and Yenisei rockets . ^A Includes mass of Apollo command and service modules, Apollo Lunar Module, Spacecraft/LM Adapter , Saturn V Instrument Unit , S-IVB stage, and propellant for translunar injection ; payload mass to LEO
2838-534: The Artemis Program's Commercial Lunar Payload Services (CLPS) initiative. On October 14, 2024, Falcon Heavy transported NASA's Europa Clipper into space to explore Jupiter's moon Europa. Falcon Heavy consists of a structurally strengthened Falcon 9 as the "core" component, with two additional Falcon 9 first stages with aerodynamic nose-cones mounted outboard serving as strap-on boosters , conceptually similar to Delta IV Heavy launcher and proposals for
2924-538: The Dragon module through the TDRS system. After the two planned orbits, the spacecraft was manually commanded to begin a deorbit burn, resulting in it splashing down in the Pacific Ocean at 19:02 UTC approximately 800 km (500 mi) west of Baja California after all three parachutes successfully deployed. SpaceX reported that all test objectives were completed, and the recovery craft arrived to retrieve
3010-510: The Energia booster was proposed in 2016, also to avoid pushing the Angara project. If developed, this vehicle could allow Russia to launch missions towards establishing a permanent Moon base with simpler logistics, launching just one or two 80-to-160-tonne super-heavy rockets instead of four 40-tonne Angara A5Vs implying quick-sequence launches and multiple in-orbit rendezvous. In February 2018,
3096-403: The Falcon Heavy arrange the engines in a structural form SpaceX calls Octaweb , aimed at streamlining the manufacturing process, and each core includes four extensible landing legs. To control the descent of the boosters and center core through the atmosphere, SpaceX uses four retractable grid fins at the top of each of the three Falcon 9 boosters, which extend after separation. Immediately after
3182-885: The Orion capsule. However, Falcon Heavy will support commercial missions for the Artemis program, since it will be used to transport the Dragon XL spacecraft to the Lunar Gateway . It was also selected to launch the first two elements of the Lunar Gateway, the Power and Propulsion Element (PPE), and the Habitation and Logistics Outpost (HALO), on a single launch no earlier than 2025, and to launch NASA's VIPER rover aboard Astrobotic Technology 's Griffin lander as part of
3268-403: The Roadster would only slightly exceed the orbit of Mars at aphelion . A year after the successful demo flight, SpaceX had signed five commercial contracts worth US$ 500–750 million, meaning that it had managed to cover the development cost of the rocket. The second flight, and first commercial one, occurred on 11 April 2019, launching Arabsat-6A , with all three boosters landing successfully for
3354-505: The Saturn V rocket. It would have been able to carry up to 160,880 kg (354,680 lb) to low Earth orbit. The Nova designs were also studied by NASA before the agency chose the Saturn V in the early 1960s Nova was cancelled in 1964 and had reusable variants. Based on the recommendations of the Stafford Synthesis report, First Lunar Outpost (FLO) would have relied on a massive Saturn-derived launch vehicle known as
3440-498: The asteroid 16 Psyche . This mission only had the side boosters return to Earth with the center core expended, a decision made to create more tolerable margins for the mission. Following the announcement of NASA's Artemis program of returning humans to the Moon, the Falcon Heavy rocket has been mentioned several times as an alternative to the expensive Space Launch System (SLS) program, but NASA decided to exclusively use SLS to launch
3526-481: The capability of producing a Falcon 9 first stage or Falcon Heavy side booster every week and an upper stage every two weeks". In 2015, SpaceX announced a number of changes to the Falcon Heavy rocket, worked in parallel to the upgrade of the Falcon 9 v1.1 launch vehicle. In December 2016, SpaceX released a photo showing the Falcon Heavy interstage at the company headquarters in Hawthorne, California . By May 2013,
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3612-427: The center core throttles to full power for a few seconds for additional thrust, then throttles down. This allows a longer burn time. After the side boosters separate, the center core throttles back up to maximum thrust. For added reliability of restart, the engine has dual redundant pyrophoric igniters ( Triethylaluminium - Triethylborane ) (TEA-TEB). The interstage, which connects the upper and lower stage for Falcon 9,
3698-403: The center core touches down on a drone ship. If boosters are expended, then the landing legs and grid fins are omitted from the vehicle. The landing legs are made of carbon fiber with aluminum honeycomb structure . The four legs stow along the sides of each core during liftoff and extend outward and down just before landing. The Falcon Heavy uses a 4.5 m (15 ft) interstage attached to
3784-463: The debut of Falcon Heavy. SpaceX anticipated the first commercial Falcon Heavy launch would be three to six months after a successful maiden flight, but due to delays, the first commercial payload, Arabsat-6A was successfully launched on 11 April 2019, a year and two months after the first flight. SpaceX hoped to have 10 launches every year from 2021 on, but there were no launches in 2020 or 2021. In May 2012, SpaceX announced that Intelsat had signed
3870-466: The design was done by TRW , the project never moved forward due to the closing of NASA's Future Projects Branch . The Rus-M was a proposed Russian family of launchers whose development began in 2009. It would have had two super heavy variants: one able to lift 50–60 tons, and another able to lift 130–150 tons. SpaceX Interplanetary Transport System was a 12 m (39 ft) diameter launch vehicle concept unveiled in 2016. The payload capability
3956-414: The first Falcon Heavy lifted off on 6 February 2018, at 20:45 UTC, carrying its dummy payload, Elon Musk's personal Tesla Roadster , beyond Mars orbit. Musk first mentioned Falcon Heavy in a September 2005 news update, referring to a customer request from 18 months prior. Various solutions using the planned Falcon 5 (which was never flown) had been explored, but the only cost-effective, reliable iteration
4042-432: The first commercial contract for a Falcon Heavy flight. It was not confirmed at the time when the first Intelsat launch would occur, but the agreement had SpaceX delivering satellites to geosynchronous transfer orbit (GTO). In August 2016, it emerged that this Intelsat contract had been reassigned to a Falcon 9 Full Thrust mission to deliver Intelsat 35e into orbit in the third quarter of 2017. Performance improvements of
4128-458: The first stage boosters to the launch site as well as recover the first stage core following landing at an Autonomous Spaceport Drone Ship barge after completion of primary mission requirements. These systems include four deployable landing legs , which are locked against each first-stage tank core during ascent and deploy just prior to touchdown. Excess propellant reserved for Falcon Heavy first-stage recovery operations will be diverted for use on
4214-489: The first stage core. It is a composite structure consisting of an aluminum honeycomb core surrounded by carbon fiber face sheet plies. Unlike for Falcon 9, the black thermal protection layer on the interstage of Block 5 center core boosters is later painted white, as seen in the Falcon Heavy flights so far, probably due to aesthetics of the Falcon Heavy Logo, providing it a greyish look. The overall length of
4300-504: The first time. The third flight occurred on 25 June 2019, launching the STP-2 (DoD Space Test Program) payload. The payload was composed of 25 small spacecraft. Operational Geostationary transfer orbit (GTO) missions for Intelsat and Inmarsat , which were planned for late 2017, were moved to the Falcon 9 Full Thrust rocket version as it had become powerful enough to lift those heavy payloads in its expendable configuration. In June 2022,
4386-424: The first two attempts were automatically aborted. The first attempt was on 3 December 2010, but the test was automatically aborted one second before ignition due to a high-pressure reading. The flight was to proceed on 7 December 2010. However, several cracks were noted on the outer portions of the niobium extension of the second stage Merlin vacuum nozzle. The decision was made to trim the un-needed six inches off
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#17327724021314472-644: The fourth-highest capacity of any rocket to reach orbit, trailing behind the SLS , Energia and the Saturn V . SpaceX conducted Falcon Heavy's maiden launch on 6 February 2018, at 20:45 UTC . As a dummy payload , the rocket carried a Tesla Roadster belonging to SpaceX founder Elon Musk , with a mannequin dubbed "Starman" in the driver's seat. The second Falcon Heavy launch occurred on 11 April 2019, and all three booster rockets successfully returned to Earth . The third Falcon Heavy launch successfully occurred on 25 June 2019. Since then, Falcon Heavy has been certified for
4558-646: The maiden Falcon Heavy flight in September 2015 to occur no earlier than April 2016. The flight was to be launched from the refurbished Kennedy Space Center Launch Complex 39A . The flight was postponed again to late 2016, early 2017, summer 2017, late 2017 and finally to February 2018. At a July 2017 meeting of the International Space Station Research and Development meeting in Washington, D.C. , Musk downplayed expectations for
4644-459: The middle of the first launch window, at 14:03 UTC, but was moved to the end of the window at 14:06 UTC. This attempt was aborted at T-02:48 on the countdown clock because of false telemetry data. The launch was re-targeted for 15:43 UTC, and was successful. First stage engines cut off at T+02:56, nose cone separated at T+03:47, second stage engines cut off at T+08:56, all as planned. The Dragon vehicle separated at T+09:30 and achieved
4730-509: The mission allowed SpaceX to advance its vehicle testing plan. With two back-to-back "near-perfect" Falcon 9 launches and satisfactory tests of the first Dragon capsule, SpaceX "asked NASA to combine objectives laid out for the remaining two COTS missions... and permit a berthing at the ISS during its next flight ". This combined test mission was completed in May 2012, and achieved its objectives, opening
4816-460: The nozzle, since the resulting performance loss was not critical. The launch was ultimately scheduled for 8 December 2010, with launch windows available from 14:00 to 14:06, 15:38 to 15:43, and 17:16 to 17:24 UTC based on the availability of the NASA tracking and data relay satellite (TDRS) network used to track and communicate with the spacecraft. The first attempt was originally scheduled for
4902-618: The path to regular cargo deliveries by Dragon to the International Space Station (ISS) under the Commercial Resupply Services (CRS) contract. Commercial flights started in October 2012 with CRS-1 . On 18 August 2006, NASA announced that SpaceX had won a NASA Commercial Orbital Transportation Services (COTS) contract to demonstrate cargo delivery to the International Space Station with
4988-562: The payload penalty to be around 10%, which would still yield over 57 t (126,000 lb) of lift capability to LEO. Returning all three boosters to the launch site rather than landing them on drone ships would yield about 30 t of payload to LEO. From 2013 to 2016, SpaceX conducted parallel development of a reusable rocket architecture for Falcon 9 , that applies to parts of Falcon Heavy as well. Early on, SpaceX had expressed hopes that all rocket stages would eventually be reusable . SpaceX has since demonstrated routine land and sea recovery of
5074-501: The planned maiden flight to 2018, including two anomalies with Falcon 9 launch vehicles, which required all engineering resources to be dedicated to failure analysis, halting flight operations for many months. The integration and structural challenges of combining three Falcon 9 cores were much more difficult than expected. In July 2017, Elon Musk said, "It actually ended up being way harder to do Falcon Heavy than we thought. ... We were pretty naive about that". The initial test flight for
5160-443: The primary mission objective, if required, ensuring sufficient performance margins for successful missions. The nominal payload capacity to a geostationary transfer orbit (GTO) is 8 t (18,000 lb) with recovery of all three first-stage cores (the price per launch is US$ 97 million), versus 26.7 t (59,000 lb) in fully expendable mode. The Falcon Heavy can also inject a 16 t (35,000 lb) payload into GTO if only
5246-431: The projected GTO payload for Falcon Heavy to 21.2 t (47,000 lb). In April 2017, the projected LEO payload for Falcon Heavy was raised from 54.4 to 63.8 t (120,000 to 141,000 lb). The maximum payload is achieved when the rocket flies a fully expendable launch profile, not recovering any of the three first-stage boosters. With just the core booster expended, and two side-boosters recovered, Musk estimates
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#17327724021315332-510: The rocket would have a core stage with a diameter of 10 meters. Long March 9 is expected to carry a payload of over 150 tonnes into low-Earth orbit, with a capacity of over 50 tonnes for Earth-Moon transfer orbit. Development was approved in 2021. Yenisei , a super heavy-lift launch vehicle using existing components instead of pushing the less-powerful Angara A5 V project, was proposed by Russia's RSC Energia in August 2016. A revival of
5418-452: The second Falcon 9 were built at SpaceX's manufacturing facility at Hawthorne, California , and were delivered to SpaceX's facilities at Cape Canaveral in July and August 2010. The target launch date was rescheduled from its original 2008 date to the end of 2010, with COTS Demo 2 and 3 being rescheduled to 2011. A full wet dress rehearsal was conducted on 15 September 2010, and the launch
5504-519: The second overall flight of the Falcon 9 rocket manufactured by SpaceX . It was also the first demonstration flight for NASA 's Commercial Orbital Transportation Services (COTS) program. The primary mission objectives were to test the orbital maneuvering and reentry of the Dragon capsule. The mission also aimed to test fixes to the Falcon 9 rocket, particularly the unplanned roll of the first stage that occurred during flight 1 . Liftoff occurred on 8 December 2010 at 15:43 UTC . The success of
5590-534: The second quarter of 2008; this flight was delayed several times, actually occurring in December 2010. Separately from the NASA COTS contract, SpaceX was also awarded a NASA contract for commercial resupply services (CRS) to the ISS. The firm contracted value is $ 1.6 billion, and NASA could elect to order additional missions for a total contract value of up to $ 3.1 billion. The two stages and Dragon capsule for
5676-581: The second-stage engine . At a press conference at the National Press Club in Washington, D.C., on 5 April 2011, Musk stated that Falcon Heavy would "carry more payload to orbit or escape velocity than any vehicle in history, apart from the Saturn V Moon rocket ... and Soviet Energia rocket". In the same year, with the expected increase in demand for both variants, SpaceX announced plans to expand manufacturing capacity "as we build towards
5762-467: The side boosters separate, three engines in each continues to burn for a few seconds in order to control the booster's trajectory safely away from the rocket. The grid fins then deploy as the boosters turn back to Earth , followed by the landing legs. The side boosters land softly on the ground in fully/partially reusable launch configuration. The center core continues to fire until stage separation. In fully reusable launches, its grid fins and legs deploy and
5848-433: The side boosters sooner, allowing their earlier separation to reduce the mass being accelerated. This would leave most of the center core propellant available after booster separation. Musk stated in 2016 that crossfeed would not be implemented. Instead, the center booster throttles down shortly after liftoff to conserve fuel, and resumes full thrust after the side boosters have separated. At an appearance in May 2004 before
5934-491: The song actually used for the launch was " Life on Mars "), and that it would be launched into an orbit around the Sun that will reach the orbit of Mars . He released pictures in the following days. The car had three cameras attached to provide "epic views". On December 28, 2017, the Falcon Heavy was moved to the launch pad in preparation of a static fire test of all 27 engines, which was expected on 19 January 2018. However, due to
6020-414: The spacecraft within 20 minutes of splashdown. The craft landed within 800 m (2,600 ft) of the targeted location, well within the 60-by-20-kilometer (37 by 12 mi) recovery zone. From launch to splashdown, the demonstration flight lasted for 3 hours, 19 minutes, 52 seconds. The second stage engine was reignited in orbit after separation from the Dragon capsule. This allowed SpaceX to work on
6106-409: The success of the maiden flight: There's a real good chance the vehicle won't make it to orbit ... I hope it makes it far enough away from the pad that it does not cause pad damage. I would consider even that a win, to be honest. In December 2017, Musk tweeted that the dummy payload on the maiden Falcon Heavy launch would be his personal Tesla Roadster playing David Bowie 's " Space Oddity " (though
6192-560: The two side boosters are recovered. The partially reusable Falcon Heavy falls into the heavy-lift range of launch systems, capable of lifting 20–50 t (44,000–110,000 lb) into low Earth orbit (LEO), under the classification system used by a NASA human spaceflight review panel. A fully expendable Falcon Heavy is in the super heavy-lift category with a maximum payload of 64 t (141,000 lb) to low Earth orbit. The initial concept (Falcon 9-S9 2005) envisioned payloads of 24.75 t (54,600 lb) to LEO, but by April 2011 this
6278-450: The various versions of Falcon Heavy priced at US$ 80–125 million in 2011, US$ 83–128 million in 2012, US$ 77–135 million in 2013, US$ 85 million for up to 6.4 t (14,000 lb) to GTO in 2014, US$ 90 million for up to 8 t (18,000 lb) to GTO in 2016. From 2017 to early 2022, the price has been stated at US$ 150 million for 63.8 t (141,000 lb) to LEO or 26.7 t (59,000 lb) to GTO (fully expendable). This equates to
6364-490: The vehicle at launch is 70 m (230 ft), and the total fueled mass is 1,420 t (3,130,000 lb). Without recovery of any stage, the Falcon Heavy can theoretically inject a 63.8 t (141,000 lb) payload into a low Earth orbit, or 16.8 t (37,000 lb) to Venus or Mars . However, because of the structural limitations the maximum weight Falcon Heavy can lift is reduced. The Falcon Heavy includes first-stage recovery systems , to allow SpaceX to return
6450-479: The КРК СТК (space rocket complex of the super-heavy class) design was updated to lift at least 90 tonnes to LEO and 20 tonnes to lunar polar orbit, and to be launched from Vostochny Cosmodrome . The first flight is scheduled for 2028, with Moon landings starting in 2030. It looks like this proposal has been at least paused. Blue Origin has plans for a project following their New Glenn rocket, termed New Armstrong , which some media sources have speculated will be
6536-457: Was designed to meet or exceed all current requirements of human rating. The structural safety margins are 40% above flight loads, higher than the 25% margins of other rockets. Falcon Heavy was designed from the outset to carry humans into space and it would restore the possibility of flying crewed missions to the Moon or Mars. The first stage is powered by three Falcon 9 derived cores, each equipped with nine Merlin 1D engines. The Falcon Heavy has
6622-412: Was one that used a 9-engine first stage—the Falcon 9. The Falcon Heavy was developed using private capital with Musk stating that the cost was more than US$ 500 million. No government financing was provided for its development. The Falcon Heavy design is based on Falcon 9 's fuselage and engines. By 2008, SpaceX had been aiming for the first launch of Falcon 9 in 2009, while "Falcon 9 Heavy would be in
6708-452: Was originally designed with a "propellant crossfeed" capability, whereby the center core engines would be supplied with fuel and oxidizer from the two side cores until their separation . This approach had previously been proposed by Vladimir Chelomei for the UR-700 launch system. Operating all engines at full thrust from launch, with fuel supplied mainly from the side boosters, would deplete
6794-469: Was pasted with an image from the poster for the 1984 spoof film Top Secret! . SpaceX's CEO did not reveal the identity of the cargo during the post-splashdown news conference, for fear of the joke overshadowing the company's accomplishments. While in orbit, a battery of automated tests were performed including thermal control and attitude control to maintain uninterrupted TDRS data links. At 16:15 UTC, SpaceX announced that it had achieved contact with
6880-537: Was planning for a first launch of Falcon Heavy from Vandenberg Air Force Base , California on the United States west coast in 2013. SpaceX refurbished Launch Complex 4E at Vandenberg AFB to accommodate Falcon 9 and Heavy. The first launch from the Cape Canaveral , Florida east coast launch complex was planned for late 2013 or 2014. Due partly to the failure of SpaceX CRS-7 in June 2015, SpaceX rescheduled
6966-420: Was projected to be up to 53 t (117,000 lb) with geostationary transfer orbit (GTO) payloads up to 12 t (26,000 lb). Later reports in 2011 projected higher payloads beyond LEO, including 19 t (42,000 lb) to geostationary transfer orbit, 16 t (35,000 lb) to translunar trajectory , and 14 t (31,000 lb) on a trans-Martian orbit to Mars . By late 2013, SpaceX raised
7052-424: Was retired in 2024. Competitors from 2024 onwards may include SpaceX's Starship (100+ t to LEO), Blue Origin's New Glenn (45 t to LEO), Relativity Space 's Terran R (34 t to LEO), and United Launch Alliance (ULA) Vulcan Centaur (27 t to LEO). Due to improvements to the performance of Falcon 9 , some of the heavier satellites flown to GTO, such as Intelsat 35e and Inmarsat-5 F4, were launched before
7138-460: Was suspended in May 1974 and formally cancelled in March 1976. The Soviet UR-700 rocket design concept competed against the N1, but was never developed. In the concept, it was to have had a payload capacity of up to 151 t (333,000 lb) to low earth orbit. During project Aelita (1969–1972), the Soviets were developing a way to beat the Americans to Mars. They designed the UR-700 A,
7224-522: Was switched to a Falcon 9 Full Thrust due to the increased liftoff capacity. The remaining contract covered the launch of Inmarsat-6 F1 in 2020 on a Falcon 9 . In December 2012, SpaceX announced its first Falcon Heavy launch contract with the United States Department of Defense (DoD). The United States Air Force Space and Missile Systems Center awarded SpaceX two Evolved Expendable Launch Vehicle (EELV)-class missions, including
7310-514: Was targeted for no earlier than 7 December 2010. On 22 November 2010, SpaceX announced that it had received a license for spacecraft re-entry from the Federal Aviation Administration 's Office of Commercial Space Transportation for the flight. It is the first such license issued to a private enterprise. A successful static test fire was performed by SpaceX on 4 December 2010. This was the third attempt to do so, as
7396-537: Was to be 550 t (1,210,000 lb) in an expendable configuration or 300 t (660,000 lb) in a reusable configuration. In 2017, the 12 m evolved into a 9 m (30 ft) diameter concept Big Falcon Rocket , which became the SpaceX Starship . SpaceX COTS Demo Flight 1#Second stage SpaceX COTS Demo Flight 1 was the first orbital spaceflight of the Dragon cargo spacecraft , and
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