SpaceX automatically retracted the Falcon Heavy’s two boosters once its mission was complete. An unusual event, as this rocket is little used. But, that will change.
SpaceX records additional success with its rockets. One more, adding to the company’s long list of successes in recent months — in 2022, SpaceX launched the equivalent of one rocket per week and had no failures. But, the flight of January 15 has a particular flavor: it was the flight of a Falcon Heavy.
It is an ultra-muscular version of the Falcon 9 rocket: the Falcon Heavy is the result of an assembly between a launcher of this range, to which we add two other Falcon 9 thrusters. Basically, the Falcon Heavy provides a thrust three times greater, since there are three boosters instead of just one. It is the most powerful launcher in the SpaceX catalog.
However, this vehicle is very little used. There have been only five flights in all since its inauguration in 2018: two missions in 2019, another in 2022 and the last on January 15. Therefore, we very rarely have the opportunity to see on video the automatic return of the two side boosters, once the launcher is at high altitude.
SpaceX is a master at recovering the first stages of its Falcon 9 rockets, which then allows it to refurbish them for reuse later. Since the mid-2010s, they have been systematically recovered (except on very rare occasions when there is an incident). Obviously, this recipe is applied to the Falcon Heavy, since it is based on the Falcon 9.
The Falcon Heavy will fly more in 2023
In the video shared by SpaceX, captured by a drone filming the two landing areas, we can see the two boosters landing almost simultaneously. It should be noted that only two boosters are recovered, and not the third, the one which is the base of the Falcon Heavy. Nothing surprising: SpaceX had indicated that it was not planned to bring it back.
After a difficult start, the Falcon Heavy may be finding its stride in the American company’s schedule. Several missions are expected in 2023. There are four, including several during the spring. One of them is highly anticipated: it is the Psyche mission, which will visit a “world of metal”.
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