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SpaceX is seeking federal approval to construct two additional landing pads so that it can land three Falcon Heavy first stage boosters on the ground nearly simultaneously:
As part of the process to gain federal approval for the simultaneous landing of its Falcon Heavy rocket boosters in Florida, SpaceX has prepared an environmental assessment of the construction of two additional landing pads alongside its existing site. The report considers noise and other effects from landing up to three first stages at the same time. After undergoing a preliminary review by the US Air Force, the document has been released for public comment.
First reported by NASASpaceFlight.com, the document offers some interesting details about the proposed launch and landing of SpaceX's heavy lift rocket, which the company hopes to fly for the first time in the spring or early summer of 2017. After previously demonstrating the ability to land a single Falcon 9 booster, SpaceX also hopes to land the three first-stage boosters that will power the Falcon Heavy for potential re-use.
Improvements in the rockets' landing guidance system will allow the company to repurpose the space used by smaller contingency pads. If the additional landing pads aren't constructed, the company could try landing one or both of the remaining boosters on drone barges instead.
SpaceX's planned return-to-flight of the Falcon 9 has been delayed to Jan 14th due to weather. The company plans to launch 10 satellites for Iridium Communications.
(Score: 3, Informative) by ese002 on Friday January 13 2017, @06:08AM
Not three Falcon Heavies. The phrasing is awkward but there is only one launch.
The Falcon Heavy first stage consists of three Falcon 9's strapped together. They need three landing pads to recover them all. This makes a lot more sense then launching Falcon Heavies in such rapid succession that there isn't time to clear the landing pad from the last launch before it is needed again by the next launch.
(Score: 2) by richtopia on Friday January 13 2017, @05:32PM
It is obvious from a picture: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Falcon_Heavy [wikipedia.org]
FYI I have tested this design in Kerbal Space Program. Strapping on more boosters does indeed increase lift capacity. Now SpaceX needs to figure out how to transfer fuel/ox between tanks super fast with a small pipe for even more lifting capacity: http://wiki.kerbalspaceprogram.com/wiki/FTX-2_External_Fuel_Duct [kerbalspaceprogram.com]
(Score: 3, Informative) by ese002 on Friday January 13 2017, @06:48PM
Now SpaceX needs to figure out how to transfer fuel/ox between tanks super fast with a small pipe for even more lifting capacity
Falcon Heavy was originally intended to cross feed fuel and oxidizer between the three first stage boosters. However, the facility was canceled [wikipedia.org], officially because the additional performance was not necessary.