by Chris Tobias
When Falcon Heavy made its debut launch back in February of 2018, it was primarily what the US Navy would have called a “shakedown cruise.” The mission for the launch was just to prove that SpaceX had a powerful horse that could really run, and the rocket passed the test in style, sending Elon Musk’s own Tesla Roadster into the black with a dummy nicknamed “Starman” at the wheel and executing a perfectly synchronized dual booster landing that could only be described as unforgettable.
But this week Falcon Heavy really goes to work, with a launch from Space Launch Complex 39A (SLC-39A) at Kennedy Space Center in Florida that will send the Arabsat-6A satellite into a Geostationary Transfer Orbit (GTO). The Arabsat-6A is a Saudi Arabian communications satellite built by Lockheed Martin. It is designed to provide television, internet and phone services to the Middle East, Africa and Europe.
According to SpaceX: “Falcon Heavy’s 27 Merlin engines generate more than 5 million pounds of thrust at liftoff, making it the world’s most powerful operational rocket by a factor of two.” In the background is the Falcon 9 booster that launched Crew Dragon to the ISS in March. (Photo and data courtesy SpaceX via Twitter)
Apparently SpaceX also has a triple landing planned for this mission, with boosters landing at both LZ-1 and LZ-2 at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station as well as on SpaceX’s Atlantic droneship Of Course I Still Love You.
Liftoff is scheduled for NET Tuesday, April 9 at 6:36 p.m. EDT (22:36 GMT). Those who want to see the massive rocket break atmo (and watch as SpaceX turns a booster landing triple play) can tune in to SpaceX’s live webcast at spacex.com or the company’s YouTube channel. Coverage will begin approximately 20 minutes before launch.
Peace, love and rockets…
