SpaceX had a successful Falcon Heavy launch of the USSF-44 mission to a geosynchronous Earth orbit from Launch Complex 39A (LC-39A) at Kennedy Space Center in Florida.
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I know Musk doesn’t like wings, but I was thinking that the center core added bracing could have an oblique wing axle through the cross members with a “tail wheel” The wing folded down like clock-hands at the 6:30 position, with a B-52 wheels by the engine block with oblique wing folded up at the 12:00 position.
I’d love to know what payload was so heavy that the center booster had to be expended. Was it so heavy this was required to put it in orbit, or did it need to be delivered to a high orbit? Deleting equipment needed to land, and burning all the landing fuel pushing the final stage makes a huge difference in delta Vee.
In all seriousness I am surprised by how quickly the F9H heavy accelerates away from the pad. It is clearly a rocket in a hurry.
It’s more efficient. All the acceleration up to 1G is wasted just hoovering, it’s the acceleration over 1G that does all the work. At least half the benefit from the side boosters is the greater acceleration allowing more of that fuel to actually accomplish something.
Really, the only downside to greater acceleration is hitting Max Q earlier.
F9H has a better thrust to weight ratio compared to a F9.
Oh big rocket launch content?
(always good for clicks)
This one was on a bit foggy morning, but nonetheless a success.
Makes me think about the scarcity of Falcon Heavy launches. Seems there is not that much market for big bulky items, emphasizing the importance of Starlink for SpaceX.
They are supposed to have 3 launches in a year
Keep in mind that it is typical for complex spacecraft to take many years of planning before they even begin construction, so it will be a while before many of those that were begun after Falcon Heavy became an actual possibility could have reached completion.
The next few planned Falcon Heavy launches are for payloads that expected to be launched already, but took longer to complete than originally expected. And there are at least four or five more on the schedule following them. There is a reasonable amount of demand already. As payloads whose planning started since Falcon Heavy became operational become ready for launch, there easily could be an increase beyond the current demand.