FALCON HEAVY

THE WORLD’S MOST POWERFUL ROCKET

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Falcon Heavy is the most powerful operational rocket in the world by a factor of two. With the ability to lift into orbit nearly 64 metric tons (141,000 lb) Falcon Heavy can lift more than twice the payload of the next closest operational vehicle, the Delta IV Heavy. Falcon Heavy is composed of three Falcon 9 nine-engine cores whose 27 Merlin engines together generate more than 5 million pounds of thrust at liftoff, equal to approximately eighteen 747 aircraft.

falcon heavy


OVERVIEW


HEIGHT 70 m / 229.6 ft
DIAMETER 12.2 m /39.9 ft
mass 1,420,788 kg / 3,125,735 lb
payload to leo 63,800 kg / 140,660 lb
payload to gto 26,700 kg / 58,860 lb
payload to mars 16,800 kg / 37,040 lb
p>falcon 9


First stage


overview | engines | landing legs

Three cores make up the first stage of Falcon Heavy. The side cores, or boosters, are connected on the nosecone, the interstage, and on the octaweb. Shortly after liftoff the center core engines are throttled down. After the side cores separate, the center core engines throttle back up to full thrust.

falcon 9


INTERSTAGE


The interstage is a composite structure that connects the center core on the first stage and second stages and holds the release and separation system.


grid fins


Falcon Heavy is equipped with 12 hypersonic grid fins, four on each booster, positioned at the base of the interstage or nosecone which orients by moving the center of pressure during reentry.

falcon 9


second stage


Falcon Heavy draws upon Falcon 9’s proven design, which minimizes stage separation events and maximizes reliability. The second-stage Merlin Vacuum Engine delivers the rocket’s payload to orbit after the main engines cut off and the first-stage cores separate.

no of engines 1
burn time 397 sec
thrust 981 kN / 220,500 lbf

falcon 9


payload


fairing | dragon

Made of a carbon composite material, the fairing protects satellites on their way to orbit. SpaceX is recovering fairing for reuse on future missions.


HEIGHT 13.1m / 43 ft
DIAMETER 5.2m / 17.1 ft








































UNMATCHED PERFORMANCE


With more than 5 million pounds of thrust at liftoff, Falcon Heavy is the most capable rocket flying. By comparison, the liftoff thrust of the Falcon Heavy equals approximately eighteen 747 aircraft at full power. Falcon Heavy can lift the equivalent of a fully loaded 737 jetliner—complete with passengers, luggage and fuel—to orbit.

ENGINES


MERLIN


sealevel | vaccume

Merlin is a family of rocket engines developed by SpaceX for use on its Falcon 1, Falcon 9 and Falcon Heavy launch vehicles. Merlin engines use a rocket grade kerosene (RP-1) and liquid oxygen as rocket propellants in a gas-generator power cycle. The Merlin engine was originally designed for recovery and reuse.


PROPALLANT LOX / RP-1
THRUST 845 kN / 190,000 lbf

Falcon Heavy vertical at Kennedy Space Center

Falcon Heavy takes off from Pad 39A at Kennedy Space Center

Falcon Heavy carries Arabsat-6A to orbit

Falcon Heavy's side boosters land at LZ-1 and LZ-2 at Cape Canaveral

Falcon Heavy lifts off from Pad 39A at Kennedy Space Center

Falcon Heavy lifts off from Pad 39A at Kennedy Space Center

All 27 Merlin engines lit on Falcon Heavy

Falcon Heavy lifts off from Pad 39A at Kennedy Space Center