SpaceX Performs Static Fire Test for Falcon Heavy Megarocket Core

by



[ad_1]


SpaceX has tested the core of the Falcon Heavy megarocket for an upcoming mission that will send 23 satellites in space in June. (Photo credit: SpaceX / Twitter)

SpaceX is preparing to send the Falcon Heavy soon into space, and this time it will launch 23 satellites in orbit.

Following its first commercial mission, the company performed a fire test on April 26 with the megarocket core at its Texas facility, Space.com announced. SpaceX also shared a photo of the fire test on Twitterconfirming the first stage of the next major launch of the Falcon Heavy.

"Falcon Heavy, a central propeller, has completed a static fire test at our rocket development facility in McGregor, Texas, in anticipation of its next mission → http://spacex.com/stp-2," the company wrote in a Twitter status.

The upcoming mission will be the first Falcon Heavy flight for the US Department of Defense, Space Test Program-2 (STP-2). According to Spaceflight Now, the Falcon Heavy rocket is expected to take off from the historic Pad 39A at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida on June 22. The purpose of this mission is to send nearly 24 satellites in space.

"The STP-2 mission will be one of the most difficult launches in SpaceX history with four engine burns in the upper stage, three separate deployment orbits, one last propulsion passivation maneuver and a total duration of more than six hours, "wrote SpaceX a description of the mission. "In addition, the US Air Force is considering reuse of the Arabsat-6A Falcon Heavy launch side boosters, which was recovered after returning to the launch site, making it the first Falcon Heavy aircraft re-used at this time. day."

The SpaceX Mission's 23 satellites also have different objectives: NASA's Green Propellant Infusion mission will test a new type of fuel that can improve the efficiency and safety of spacecraft propulsion, while Prox-1, developed by students at the Georgia Institute of Technology, will test small satellites to see if they can perform close-encounter operations.

More on Geek.com:

[ad_2]

Source link