SpaceX sets launch date for Falcon Heavy
SpaceX CEO Elon Musk said the company will launch its first Falcon Heavy rocket in November.
The Verge reported that this is the latest flight date in a series of missed launches for the Falcon Heavy.
SpaceX conducted the first static fire test of a Falcon Heavy centre core at its rocket development facility in Texas earlier in the year.
Musk has tried to lower expectations of how successful the flight will be, considering the challenges they face with the Falcon Heavy.
The rocket combines three Falcon 9 cores and will be capable of lifting 26,700kg to a geosynchronous transfer orbit. If it needs to deliver its payload to low-earth orbit, it can lift up to 63,800kg.
Musk warned that combining the three cores triples the amount of vibrations and acoustics the rocket will experience during launch, and SpaceX has had to restructure the centre core to handle the new loads.
Until now, SpaceX has only tested the boosters separately, and the 27 engines in the three rockets must ignite simultaneously for the Falcon Heavy to lift off.
Musk’s hopes for the first launch are that the Falcon Heavy makes it far away enough from the launch site so it does not cause damage to the launch pad if something goes wrong.
First static fire test of a Falcon Heavy center core completed at our McGregor, TX rocket development facility last week. pic.twitter.com/tHUHc1QiKG
— SpaceX (@SpaceX) May 9, 2017
Now read: SpaceX aims to re-use its rockets within 24 hours by 2018
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