SpaceX Unveils Plans For World’s Largest Rocket

April 6, 2011 — SpaceX has unveiled final specifications and the launch date for its Falcon Heavy, the world’s largest rocket, which it claims will lift more than twice as much as any other launch vehicle. “Falcon Heavy will carry more payload to orbit or escape velocity than any vehicle in history, apart from the Saturn V moon rocket, which was decommissioned after the Apollo program,” said Elon Musk, CEO and chief rocket designer. “This opens a new world of capability for both government and commercial space missions.” The ability to carry satellites or interplanetary spacecraft weighing over 53 metric tons (117,000 pounds) to orbit, Musk said Falcon Heavy will have more than twice the performance of the Space Shuttle or Delta IV Heavy, the next most powerful vehicle, which is operated by Boeing-Lockheed Martin joint venture United Launch Alliance. For perspective, 53 metric tons is more than the maximum take-off weight of a fully loaded Boeing 737-200 with 136 passengers. In other words, Falcon Heavy can deliver the equivalent of an entire airline flight full of passengers, crew, luggage and fuel all the way to orbit. Falcon Heavy will generate 3.8 million pounds of thrust at liftoff, which is the equivalent to the thrust of 15 Boeing 747s taking off at the same time. The rocket will meet human flight standards and may be used for missions to the moon or Mars, Musk said. “It opens up a range of possibilities for government and commercial customers.” View the launch simulation video at www.spacex.com/multimedia/videos.php?id=59. Business Week reported that the initial demonstration flight of a Falcon Heavy is scheduled for November or December 2012 at Vandenberg Air Force Base in California. A launch from Cape Canaveral, Florida, is planned for late 2013 or 2014. The company expects to eventually launch about 20 rockets a year, half Falcon Heavy rockets and half smaller Falcon 9 rockets, which are undergoing testing. NASA has awarded the company a $1.6 billion contract to deliver cargo to the International Space Station using the Falcon 9 rocket and the company’s Dragon spacecraft. The company hopes the Falcon Heavy will compete to deliver military and spy satellites also, Adam Harris, the company’s vice president for government affairs, told Business Week.

SpaceX’s Falcon Heavy will lift more than twice as much as any other launch vehicle. Credit: SpaceX

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