![]() Falcon-Heavy (Tesla Roadster) |
![]() Falcon-Heavy (ex) |
Falcon-9 is a liquid fueled orbital launch vehicle for medium to heavy sized missions, which was developed at SpaceX (Space Exploration Technologies Corp.). It is technologically based on the Falcon-1 launch vehicle. Both stages are Kerosene / LOX fueled.
The first stage, which will be reusable after recovery by powered landing, is to be powered by 9 of the SpaceX built Merlin-1C engines with regenerative cooling. The upper stage will use a single Merlin engine and will also be reusable. The Falcon-Heavy is offered with a 5.2 m fairing.
High inclination launches will launch from Vandenberg AFB. Launch site for low inclination launches is the former Shuttle pad at Cape Canaveral, LC-39A. An additional launch site at Boca Chica near Brownsville, Texas, was also under construction, but this site has in 2018 been dedicated for the Starship development.
The first flight for a Falcon-Heavy was originally planned for 2014 from Vandenberg, but has been moved to Cape Canaveral in 2015, eventually delayed to early 2018. All further Falcon Heavy flights are Falcon-Heavy (Block 5) versions.
Version | Strap-On | Stage 1 | Stage 2 |
---|---|---|---|
Falcon-Heavy | 2 × Stage 1 (str., reusable) / 9 × Merlin-1D (upr.) | Stage 1 (str., reusable) / 9 × Merlin-1D (upr.) | Stage 2 (str.) / Merlin-1D-Vac (upr.) |
Falcon-Heavy (ex) | 2 × Stage 1 (str.) / 9 × Merlin-1D (upr.) | Stage 1 (str.) / 9 × Merlin-1D (upr.) | Stage 2 (str.) / Merlin-1D-Vac (upr.) |
Performance (kg) | LEO | LPEO | SSO | GTO | GEO | MolO | IP |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Falcon-Heavy | 8000 | ||||||
Falcon-Heavy (ex) | 63800 | 26700 | 16800 |
No. TypNo Type Serial/Core Date LS Payload
49 1 Falcon-Heavy B1033.1/23.2/25.2 06.02.2018 r CCK LC-39A Tesla Roadster Launch sites: CCK = NASA John F. Kennedy Space Center, Cape Canaveral, Florida, USAVa = Vandenberg AFB, California, USA
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