Falcon Heavy - General Discussion

[e-FTW]

Pretty soon, this thread will pick up with news of the two Falcon Heavy launches of 2019. Woot!

 

[e-FTW]

Lots of info just dropped: SpaceX Reveals Potential Launch Date For Its Next Falcon Heavy Rocket — Forbes

• NET March 7th for first (Arabsat) of two launches
• Side boosters will RTLS, core to land on OCISLY
• The best part:

Rumours suggest that the boosters on this launch could be flown again weeks later on a third Falcon Heavy flight. SpaceX is apparently considering a rapid turnaround of the boosters, having them ready to launch again in 60 days. This will be for the launch of the United States Air Force’s (USAF) Space Test Program 2 (STP-2), launching more than two dozen satellites for the US military.

The two FCC filling themselves:
Space Exploration Technologies Corp. (SpaceX) 0026-EX-ST-2019 FCC Experimental License
Space Exploration Technologies Corp. (SpaceX) 0028-EX-ST-2019 FCC Experimental License

 

[e-FTW]

That rumour part is from an excellent Teslarati article: SpaceX to attempt back-to-back Falcon Heavy launches with booster reuse in 2019

That article also spells out my initial thoughts on the re-use of the Arabsat boosters (my emphasis):

Whether or not this officially unconfirmed information is correct, it certainly sounds like just the thing that CEO Elon Musk might challenge SpaceX to pull off, not to mention the fact that this would place the US Air Force in a situation requiring it to become the first commercial customer to launch on a flight-proven Falcon Heavy. This would be a truly dramatic change in attitude compared to comments made in just the last week, brought up in the context of SpaceX’s planned December 18 (now Dec 22) launch of the USAF’s first next-gen GPS satellite, GPS III SV01. In official comments provided to the media, the Air Force was extremely “uncertain” about allowing SpaceX to even attempt to recover its Falcon 9 booster, let alone allowing the company to fly Air Force payloads on flight-proven rockets.

 

[e-FTW]

Lastly, regarding STP-2:

Falcon 9 could almost certainly launch STP-2 in a reusable configuration, but the USAF chose Falcon Heavy – and included literal dead weight – because the military branch is very interested in the rocket’s potential utility for more serious National Security Space missions.

Yes, SpaceX launching dead weight. I cannot help but think that slightly annoys a tiny part of Elon’s brain (“The humans, they are so inefficient. And they enjoy this zip-lining?”).

 

[Grendal]

STP-2 likely delayed until June according to Jeff Foust of Space News.

 

[ecarfan]

Falcon Heavy making only second flight, but it’s already changing the game

Quote: “in the 14 months since the large rocket's inaugural flight, Falcon Heavy has had a remarkable effect on the nation's space policy. In three key areas—national defense, science, and human exploration—the Falcon Heavy rocket has to some extent changed the discussion. As it turns out, the demand was there for a low-cost, heavy-lift booster.”

 

[Grendal]

Here's a good article on what drove the Arabsat customer to choose FH over a F9:
Arabsat CEO: Falcon Heavy gives our satellite extra life - SpaceNews.com

 

[ecarfan]

Quote from that article: Arabsat-6A is a large satellite, weighing 6,460-kilograms. Balkheyour said preliminary calculations show the satellite will get an extra boost from Falcon Heavy that should extend its life to between 18 and 20 years.“

Wow. Totally worth the extra cost of the FH compared to the F9.

 

[Grendal]

A reminder of the great achievement from last year:

 

[adiggs]

A reminder of the great achievement from last year:

I can report that STILL doesn't get old

We should check again in a year - maybe then.

 

[destructure00]

Good launch today, 3 for 3 on recovery!

 

[TEG]

Yeah, seemed textbook perfect. Space-X FTW

 

[Grendal]

Confirmed they will reuse the side boosters from Arabsat 6A on STP-2. SpaceX wasn't sure of the center core recovery and the wear and tear on such a rough landing. So STP-2 will use a brand new center core. Coming up pretty soon.

 

[mongo]

Does anyone have a contact at SpaceX? There is an issue with their website I think needs addressed (or I'm just type A (or wrong)). Happy to just PM the info to pass along, no need to give me their info.
Thanks

 

[palmer_md]

Does anyone have a contact at SpaceX? There is an issue with their website I think needs addressed (or I'm just type A (or wrong)). Happy to just PM the info to pass along, no need to give me their info.
Thanks

[email protected] That should go directly to him. or was that his Tesla email account.

 

[Electroman]

What is STP?

 

[mongo]

[email protected] That should go directly to him. or was that his Tesla email account.

Must have been Tesla, doesn't work for SpaceX.
Oh well, tried the media address again...

 

[destructure00]

Confirmed they will reuse the side boosters from Arabsat 6A on STP-2. SpaceX wasn't sure of the center core recovery and the wear and tear on such a rough landing. So STP-2 will use a brand new center core. Coming up pretty soon.

And then there's this too!

 

[woof]

What is STP?

"The racer's edge!"

And "Space Test Program" (see a few posts above).

 

[Grendal]

Moderator interruption. A quick reminder that this thread is about general Falcon Heavy rocket discussion. Posts about a particular FH launch should be made in the launch thread.

I expect todays launch will have an effect on Falcon Heavies market. More satellite companies will consider the upgrade to the FH to get their satellite in place faster and with more fuel.