SpaceX dusts off Falcon Heavy for first flight in 18 months
SpaceX is preparing to launch its Falcon Heavy rocket for the first time in more than 18 months, marking the start of a high-activity period for the vehicle. The mission will launch the ViaSat-3 F3 communications satellite into geostationary orbit. Liftoff is scheduled during an 85-minute window opening at 1421 UTC today, with a backup opportunity on April 28 at 1417 UTC. The last Falcon Heavy mission launched the Europa Clipper in October 2024, and the entire Falcon Heavy system was expended. This time, SpaceX plans to recover both side boosters, landing them simultaneously at Landing Zones 2 and 40 at Cape Canaveral. Both side boosters are veterans: one has flown on 18 Starlink missions, the other on the GOES-U Falcon Heavy mission in June 2024. The ViaSat-3 F3 satellite, part of the ViaSat-3 broadband constellation, will add more than 1 Tbps of capacity to the company's network over the Asia-Pacific region. It weighs six metric tons, requiring a heavy lifter like Falcon Heavy. SpaceX's Starship remains in development, with the third iteration undergoing testing, and orbital flight still uncertain. Until Starship matures, Falcon Heavy remains SpaceX's heaviest operational workhorse and most photogenic rocket, with twin booster landings being a notable spectacle.
Source: theregister.com