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SpaceX has been flying the Falcon nine for several years, and the next pace is the Falcon Heavy, a launch vehicle with enough power to take payloads to the moon, Mars, and beyond. As recently equally a few weeks ago, SpaceX has been talking nigh a 2022 date for the Falcon Heavy'south maiden launch. All the same, it looks similar that won't happen afterward all. The company has confirmed that the launch has been postponed until next year. We might not have to wait too long, though.

The Falcon Heavy (previously known as the Falcon ix Heavy) will be the most powerful rocket in the earth, with more than than 5.i meg pounds of thrust at sea level. The Heavy is based on the highly successful Falcon 9. It'south actually three Falcon ix rockets linked together. The eye unit volition include a strengthened frame to support the ii side boosters. The three Falcon 9 cores will mean a total of 27 Merlin 1D engines to burn down at launch.

SpaceX has been working to get all its ducks in a row to brand the promised 2022 launch schedule happen. Earlier this twelvemonth, the company successfully fired the revamped center core for the Falcon Heavy, finding that the structural modifications didn't interfere with engine performance. By belatedly summertime, SpaceX was shooting for a Nov launch, just that was pushed to December, and at present into maybe Jan 2022.

According to SpaceX President Gwynne Shotwell, the visitor notwithstanding hopes to do a static fire test this twelvemonth. That would be the first fourth dimension the fully assembled rocket shows its face publicly, only it will be tethered to the ground so as not to get anywhere during the exam. SpaceX volition utilise this to ensure all 27 engines operate correctly. The actual launch could take identify several weeks later the static test, thus the tentative January 2022 engagement. The Falcon Heavy is theoretically reusable like the Falcon 9, but information technology'southward unclear if SpaceX is going to endeavour and country the first phase boosters on its first flight.

When the Falcon Heavy is upwardly and running, it volition be able to lift payloads equally big as 140,700 pounds into orbit. The rocket should as well be able to take well-nigh 58,000 pounds upward to geostationary orbit, and as much as 37,000 pounds to Mars. The Falcon Heavy will launch from the famed Kennedy Space Center Launch Complex 39A, the site of Saturn V launches for the Apollo program. The Falcon Heavy will be the most powerful rocket in operation since NASA retired the Saturn V.