SpaceX Gets Regulatory Approval for Megarocket, Setting Up Friday Launch Attempt
SpaceX recently received a major milestone in preparation for its next mission: regulatory approval from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). This approval sets the stage for SpaceX to make a historic launch attempt of its new ‘megarocket’ this Friday.
The mission, known as the Falcon Heavy, is set to become the most powerful rocket in the world, carrying more than double the payload capacity of the current leader, the United Launch Alliance’s Delta IV Heavy. This means that the Falcon Heavy is capable of taking a payload of nearly 140,000 pounds to low Earth orbit.
The Falcon Heavy is made up of three ‘core’ stages, each being a modified Falcon 9. These three stages will weave and twist together as the rocket launches, providing more than 5 million pounds of thrust at liftoff.
In order to get the mission off the ground, SpaceX needed regulatory approval from the FAA, which was granted on Wednesday, just three days before the launch window opens this Friday. The FAA’s approval gives SpaceX the green light to begin its pre-launch activities, which are expected to start later today.
The launch window is open from 15:30 to 19:30 EDT (19:30 to 23:30 UTC) on Friday. The mission has a 70-percent chance of clear skies for an on-time liftoff.
The Falcon Heavy will be carrying the robotic Falcon 9 drone ship ‘Just Read the Instructions’, which will be deployed alongside two other communications satellites from Luxembourg and the UAE.
For SpaceX, this mission is an important step in proving that their technology is safe and viable. It also provides a major opportunity to demonstrate the potential of the rocket for future missions. A successful launch could open the door to SpaceX sending its first crewed mission to Mars in 2024, as part of its commitment to become the first company to do so.
Although the mission is set to be an incredibly ambitious one, SpaceX is confident that they will pass this test with flying colors. We will have to wait until Friday to see how it plays out.