Falcon Heavy Returns to Flight

Falcon Heavy is the world's most powerful rocket by a factor of two and hasn't flown since June of  2019.  Turns out that's not a problem for a group that knows how to launch the world's most launched booster on a routine basis, and the performance of the mission to carry payloads directly to geosynchronous orbit had the customer, the US Space Force, saying it was “simply outstanding.”  Flying satellites directly to 22,400 miles altitude for the geosynchronous orbit puts Falcon Heavy into a very small class of rockets worldwide. 

The success of the US Space Force’s USSF-44 mission means that SpaceX’s Falcon Heavy rocket is now one of just a handful of operational rockets in the world that has demonstrated the ability to launch satellites directly to geosynchronous orbit. More importantly, it’s one of just three US rockets with that established capability. The other two rockets – ULA’s Atlas V and Delta IV – will cease to be available for US military missions by the end of 2023, meaning that Falcon Heavy may briefly become the only rocket in the world able to launch certain US military missions until ULA’s next-generation Vulcan rocket is ready to prove itself.

I think it's well-known that this mission has been delayed several times due to issues with the payload, but that couldn't be known when the mission was first scheduled for late 2021 or early this year.  That means SpaceX had the hardware required for today's launch – mainly three new first-stage boosters – fully built, the qualification testing completed, and sitting here on the Cape since mid-2021.  It's my understanding there are more sets reserved for Falcon Heavy here now as well.

Here on the Space Coast, as the tourist development agencies call it, the weather was fine but on Cape Canaveral itself, there was uncharacteristic fog.  It was hard to see the actual launch and visibility continuously improved as the rocket's altitude increased.  I have no idea where to get actual data on this, but I don't think I remember there ever being a fog around here in October.  December through the end of January are much more likely to have foggy mornings, in my experience.  

This morning's launch from my backyard around 30 seconds before Booster Engine Cutoff and staging.  Canon EOS T6i, Sigma 70-300mm zoom at 300mm.   Since that's a small sensor, it's more like a 500mm lens on a full-frame sensor.

A visual "trademark" of Falcon Heavy launches is when the boosters return to SpaceX landing zones one and two on Cape Canaveral Space Force Station.  The returns and landings seem choreographed to occur seconds apart.  They seemed to be set up to land five seconds apart today.  While we've heard sonic booms here from boosters returning to CCSFS before, we didn't hear them today,  You should watch the SpaceX video over on YouTube.  The video linked is time tagged to start up at T-15 seconds, but you can watch the whole thing simply by moving the slider on screen back to the beginning, or wherever you choose to watch it.  

With Artemis/SLS preparing to roll back to Launch Pad 39B no earlier than 12:01 AM on Friday, Nov. 4, it seems to me the debate over which rocket will be the new most powerful rocket in the world, SLS or Starship, is settled and SLS will own that title.  Until Starship flies.  Probably within a few months, and possibly this month.