SpaceX announces Falcon Heavy rocket
Posted: Tue, Apr 5, 2011, 7:06 PM ET (2306 GMT)
SpaceX announced Tuesday plans to build a rocket more powerful than any other launch vehicle currently in service. The Falcon Heavy rocket features three nine-engine cores based on the first stage of its Falcon 9 rocket, generating 16.9 million newtons (3.8 million pounds-force) at liftoff. The rocket will be place to place 53,000 kilograms into low Earth orbit, more than double the Space Shuttle or Delta 4 Heavy. The rocket will be able to tolerate the failure of up to several of its 27 first-stage engines and still reach orbit, according to the company. SpaceX is planning a demonstration launch from a new launch facility at Vandenberg Air Force Base in California in 2013, with launches from Cape Canaveral to begin in late 2013 or 2014. The company is pricing the Falcon Heavy at $80-125 million, significantly less that existing large expendable rockets.
SpaceX announced Tuesday plans to build a rocket more powerful than any other launch vehicle currently in service. The Falcon Heavy rocket features three nine-engine cores based on the first stage of its Falcon 9 rocket, generating 16.9 million newtons (3.8 million pounds-force) at liftoff. The rocket will be place to place 53,000 kilograms into low Earth orbit, more than double the Space Shuttle or Delta 4 Heavy. The rocket will be able to tolerate the failure of up to several of its 27 first-stage engines and still reach orbit, according to the company. SpaceX is planning a demonstration launch from a new launch facility at Vandenberg Air Force Base in California in 2013, with launches from Cape Canaveral to begin in late 2013 or 2014. The company is pricing the Falcon Heavy at $80-125 million, significantly less that existing large expendable rockets.
Related Links:
| <<previous article | next article>> |
|
news in brief
|
|
Space Force and NGA sign agreement on space-based intelligence
Posted: Sat, May 24 7:35 AM ET (1135 GMT) |
|
news links
|
|
Tuesday, June 3
Schumer Urges Trump to Release BEAD Funding, Warns Against Subsidizing Starlink
Broadband Brekfast — 6:55 am ET (1055 GMT) Starlink to bring satellite network service to S. Korea
Korea Herald — 6:54 am ET (1054 GMT) Eutelsat OneWeb gets regulatory nod for satellite services in South Korea
Telecoms.com — 6:53 am ET (1053 GMT) MP says space engagement should be ‘hardwired’
Shetland Times — 6:50 am ET (1050 GMT) Christchurch entrepreneur becomes the first New Zealander in space
Otago (NZ) Daily Times — 6:49 am ET (1049 GMT) |
