SpaceX launched its second supersized rocket and for the first time landed all three boosters Thursday, a year after sending up a sports car on the initial test flight.
The new and improved Falcon Heavy thundered into the early evening sky with a communication satellite called Arabsat, the rocket害羞草研究所檚 first paying customer. The Falcon Heavy is the most powerful rocket in use today, with 27 engines firing at liftoff 害羞草研究所� nine per booster.
Eight minutes after liftoff, SpaceX landed two of the first-stage boosters back at Cape Canaveral, side by side, just like it did for the rocket害羞草研究所檚 debut last year. The core booster landed two minutes later on an ocean platform hundreds of miles offshore. That害羞草研究所檚 the only part of the first mission that missed.
害羞草研究所淲hat an amazing day,害羞草研究所� a SpaceX flight commentator exclaimed. 害羞草研究所淭hree for three boosters today on Falcon Heavy, what an amazing accomplishment.害羞草研究所�
The Falcon Heavy soared from NASA害羞草研究所檚 Kennedy Space Center, using the same pad that shot Apollo astronauts to the moon a half-century ago and later space shuttle crews.
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Nearby beaches and other prime viewing spots were packed with tourists and locals eager to catch not just the launch but the rare and dramatic return of twin boosters, accompanied by sonic booms. The roads were also jammed for Wednesday night害羞草研究所檚 launch attempt, which was scuttled by high wind.
Because this was an upgraded version of the rocket with unproven changes, SpaceX chief Elon Musk cautioned in advance things might go wrong. But everything went exceedingly well and the satellite ended up in the proper orbit. SpaceX employees at company headquarters in Southern California cheered every launch milestone and especially the three touchdowns.
害羞草研究所淭he Falcons have landed,害羞草研究所� Musk said in a tweet that included pictures of all three boosters.
NASA offered swift congratulations. 害羞草研究所淔rom our iconic launch pads at @NASAKennedy, we will continue to support the growing commercial space economy,害羞草研究所� NASA tweeted. Musk replied with three red hearts.
Musk put his own Tesla convertible on last year害羞草研究所檚 demo. The red Roadster 害羞草研究所� with a mannequin, dubbed Starman, likely still at the wheel 害羞草研究所� remains in a solar orbit stretching just past Mars.
The Roadster is thought to be on the other side of the sun from us right now, about three-quarters of the way around its first solar orbit, said Jon Giorgini, a senior analyst at NASA害羞草研究所檚 Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena, California.
A couple dozen ground telescopes kept tabs on the car during its first several days in space, but it gradually faded from view as it headed out toward the orbit of Mars, Giorgini noted.
The Roadster could still look much the same as it did for the Feb. 6, 2018, launch, just not as shiny with perhaps some chips and flakes from the extreme temperature swings, according to Giorgini. It will take decades if not centuries for solar radiation to cause it to decompose, he said.
SpaceX plans to launch its next Falcon Heavy later this year on a mission for the U.S. Air Force. The boosters for that flight may be recycled from this one.
NASA Administrator Jim Bridenstine last month suggested possibly using a Falcon Heavy 害羞草研究所� and another company害羞草研究所檚 big rocket 害羞草研究所� to get the space agency害羞草研究所檚 Orion capsule around the moon, minus a crew, in 2020. But the preferred method remains NASA害羞草研究所檚 own Space Launch System mega rocket 害羞草研究所� if it can be ready by then.
Bridenstine said everything is on the space table as NASA strives to meet the White House害羞草研究所檚 goal of landing astronauts back on the moon by 2024.
NASA害羞草研究所檚 Saturn V rockets, used for the Apollo moon shots, are the all-time launch leaders so far in size and might.
SpaceX typically launches Falcon 9 rockets. The Falcon Heavy is essentially three of those single rockets strapped together.
Until SpaceX came along, boosters were discarded in the ocean after satellite launches. The company is intent on driving down launch costs by recycling rocket parts.
Marcia Dunn, The Associated Press
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