Development of the Falcon Heavy launch vehicle has been going on since 2011. Initially, SpaceX planned to begin its tests in 2013, but the dates shifted smoothly. In the summer of this year, the head of SpaceX Ilon Mask said that the rocket is being prepared for the first flight, which will take place in the autumn of 2017, and recently reported on successful tests of the first-stage engines.
The tests were carried out on a special stand, equipped at the company's plant in Texas. Each stage is a modified and reinforced first stage of the Falcon 9 rocket, equipped with special fairings. During the test, the engine stages worked for about a minute, then the fuel ran out of the tanks, and the test was successfully completed.
On assurances of SpaceX, the Falcon Heavy rocket will become the most powerful rocket of the company, capable of putting up to 64 tons of cargo into near-earth orbit. In this case, all stages of the rocket are planned to be returned.
The first test flight of the rocket is scheduled for November 2017. Ilon Musk hopes that the rocket will fly, but he does not feel much hope that he will land the steps after the first flight. Nevertheless, even the flight itself will be a major breakthrough for the company, because the launch has already been postponed several times.
The article is based on materials .
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