https://www.theverge.com/2018/1/24/16841580/spacex-falcon-heavy-rocket-static-fire-first-launch
Today, SpaceX simultaneously fired up all 27 engines on its new massive Falcon Heavy rocket — a crucial final test for the vehicle before its first flight in the coming weeks. An hour after the test, SpaceX CEO Elon Musk confirmed that the test was good, and that the Falcon Heavy will launch in "a week or so." When SpaceX gives an official target day and time, it'll be the first time a definitive launch date has been given for the rocket's inaugural voyage, a flight that was initially promised to happen as early as 2013.
SpaceX has posted a 31-second video of the Falcon Heavy test firing to the SpaceX YouTube channel.
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Engadget is reporting that the Flacon Heavy demo flight has been scheduled:
It looks as though it's finally happening. SpaceX's Falcon Heavy rocket may have a launch date, according to Chris G. of NASASpaceflight.com. The rocket will launch no earlier than February 6th, with a window of 1:30 PM ET to 4:30 PM ET. There's a backup window on February 7th, just in case. We've reached out to SpaceX for confirmation.
Update 1/27: Elon Musk has confirmed that SpaceX is "aiming for" a February 6th launch.
Aiming for first flight of Falcon Heavy on Feb 6 from Apollo launchpad 39A at Cape Kennedy. Easy viewing from the public causeway.
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) January 27, 2018
Spaceflight Now has these launch details:
Launch window: 1830-2130 GMT (1:30-4:30 p.m. EST)
Launch site: LC-39A, Kennedy Space Center, Florida
A SpaceX Falcon Heavy rocket will launch on its first demonstration flight. The heavy-lift rocket is formed of three Falcon 9 rocket cores strapped together with 27 Merlin 1D engines firing at liftoff. The first Falcon Heavy rocket will attempt to place a Tesla Roadster on an Earth escape trajectory into a heliocentric orbit.
Previously:
SpaceX Conducts Successful Static Fire Test of Falcon Heavy
SpaceX Falcon Heavy Testing Delayed by Government Shutdown
Falcon Heavy Readied for Static Fire Test
SpaceX's Falcon Heavy Rocket Sets Up at Cape Canaveral Ahead of Launch
SpaceX Successfully Tests Falcon Heavy First Stage Cores
(Score: 1) by khallow on Thursday January 25 2018, @05:27AM (4 children)
(Score: 1) by fustakrakich on Thursday January 25 2018, @05:49AM (1 child)
That's ok. The video was long. It was 32 seconds. It looked like the engines fired for about 3
La politica e i criminali sono la stessa cosa..
(Score: 1) by khallow on Thursday January 25 2018, @07:54AM
And I'm sure by now, I can find a video that's several minutes long with the testing firing in it. Doesn't mean the test fire was several minutes long. The above clip showed the same firing from at least two angles.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Thursday January 25 2018, @07:22PM (1 child)
You sound as disappointed as the prom queen...
(Score: 1) by khallow on Friday January 26 2018, @04:36AM
(Score: 4, Insightful) by KilroySmith on Thursday January 25 2018, @06:37AM (1 child)
I was privileged to watch a shuttle landing at Edwards and a night shuttle launch from KSC.
I so badly want to hit the road, end up with my toes in Atlantic sand, and watch and feel 27 engines disappear into the distance.
It seems only yesterday that SpaceX was a laughingstock, blowing up evey rocket they tried to launch. Now they've taken over much of the commercial launch business, are landing boosters on ships (!!!), and are about to demonstrate the ability to land people on the moon, and send payloads to Mars.
(Score: 2) by bob_super on Thursday January 25 2018, @05:39PM
They're still the laughingstock, because like any terrible Chinese manufacturer, they didn't put the charger in the box.
(Score: 2) by takyon on Thursday January 25 2018, @08:35PM
http://www.sciencemag.org/news/2018/01/successful-test-fire-massive-falcon-heavy-rocket-poised-boost-space-science [sciencemag.org]
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