Here in Central Florida, we’re used to near-weekly launches of SpaceX Falcon 9 rockets from the Cape, but the Falcon Heavy is a different story and serves a different purpose. A large lunar rocket carrying out its first test mission, the largest and most powerful rocket in existence besides NASA’s SLS. “It has the ability to put satellites into orbit that almost no other rocket can get close to,” he said. other and related. It is also a more complex rocket to launch and control. “There are more engines. There is more plumbing. But there’s more software, different control algorithms used to make sure the rocket stays on track. So in some aspects it’s probably more than three times harder,” Play said. And one of those challenging aspects is one of the most spectacular moments to watch as two side boosters descend vertically into Landing Zones One and Two seconds apart. The main booster will use all its fuel to propel the payload farther, and that’s part of it. The reason Falcon Heavy is in a class by itself. Like the last mission in November, it will carry payloads for the US Space Force into deep GEO orbit. This will be the fifth launch of the Falcon Heavy, and four more are planned for this year. What will make this launch even more spectacular is that it will happen a few minutes after sunset, we will see what is called the jellyfish effect. At high altitude, the rocket’s gas plume will be illuminated by sunlight while it is darker underground. The starting window opens on Saturday at 5 p.m.
Here in Central Florida, we’re used to the nearly weekly launches of SpaceX Falcon 9 rockets from the Cape, but the Falcon Heavy is a different story and serves a different purpose.
With a five-million-pound thrust, Heavy is the largest and most powerful rocket in existence other than NASA’s SLS large moon rocket, which has just completed its first test mission, experts say.
“It has the ability to put satellites into orbit that almost no other rocket can get close to,” Platt said.
Basically, Heavy is three Falcon 9 boosters lined up and connected together. And that makes it a much more complex missile to launch and control.
“There are more engines. There is more plumbing. But there’s more software, different control algorithms used to make sure the rocket stays on track. So in some aspects it’s probably more than three times harder,” Play said.
And one of those difficult aspects is one of the most spectacular aspects to watch as two side boosters descend into vertical landing zones within seconds of each other.
The main booster will use all of its fuel to carry the payload further, which is part of the reason the Falcon Heavy is in a class by itself. Like the last mission in November, it will carry payloads for the US Space Force into deep GEO orbit. This will be the fifth launch of the Falcon Heavy, and four more are planned for this year.
What will make this launch even more spectacular is that it will happen a few minutes after sunset, we will see what is called the jellyfish effect.
At high altitude, the rocket’s gas plume will be illuminated by sunlight while it is darker underground.
The starting window opens on Saturday at 5 p.m.
