SpaceX Demo (Test Flight) Falcon Heavy
Rocket Launch Video Streams
Weather Forecast During Launch
According to weather officials, there's a 90% chance of favorable weather conditions at the time of the launch.
Meet the Astronaut Crew
Starman
| Role | Space Traveller |
|---|---|
| Nationality | Unknown |
| First Flight | 02/06/2018 |
| Last Flight | 02/06/2018 |
"Starman" is a mannequin dressed in a spacesuit occupying the driver's seat of Elon Musk's Tesla Roadster, launched...
About the Demo Flight 1 (Maiden Flight) Mission
| Type | Test Flight |
|---|---|
| Orbit | Heliocentric N/A |
| Launch Cost | $90,000,000 |
This will be the inaugural flight of the Falcon Heavy. The test payload will be SpaceX CEO Elon Musk's midnight cherry Tesla Roadster playing Space Oddity. Destination: An elliptical, heliocentric orbit. Apoapsis: Around Mars' orbital distance.
Launch Pad & Location
Launch Complex 39A
Kennedy Space Center, FL, USA
| Launches | 222 |
|---|---|
| Orbital Launch Attempts | 221 |
| Total Launches | 281 |
The John F. Kennedy Space Center, located on Merritt Island, Florida, is one of NASA's ten field centers. Since 1968, KSC has been NASA's primary launch center of American spaceflight, research, and technology. Launch operations for the Apollo, Skylab and Space Shuttle programs were carried out from Kennedy Space Center Launch Complex 39 and managed by KSC. Located on the east coast of Florida, KSC is adjacent to Cape Canaveral Space Force Station (CCSFS).
SpaceX Falcon Heavy Rocket
The Falcon Heavy is a variant of the Falcon 9 full thrust launch vehicle and consists of a standard Falcon 9 rocket core, with two additional boosters derived from the Falcon 9 first stage.
Booster Landing & Recovery
Core B1033
| Serial Number | B1033 |
|---|---|
| Last Flight | 02/06/2018 |
| Details | Two of the outer engines didn't re-ignite for the landing burn, ran out of TEA/TEB igniters. |
The first stage of the Falcon 9 failed to land on the ASDS, OCISLY, stationed of the east coast. According to CEO Elon Musk the center core did not have enough ignition fluid to restart the two outer engines during its final approach to the ship. As a result, the center core was destroyed when it impacted the water at over 480kmh merely 100 meters from the droneship.
Of Course I Still Love You - OCISLY
The second ASDS barge, Of Course I Still Love You (OCISLY) services launches in the Pacific Ocean and was the site of the first landing of a SpaceX Falcon 9 first stage during CRS-8, the launch of a Dragon spacecraft to the International Space Station.
Autonomous Spaceport Drone Ship - ASDS
An autonomous spaceport drone ship (ASDS) is an ocean-going vessel derived from a deck barge, outfitted with station-keeping engines and a large landing platform. Construction of such ships was commissioned by aerospace company SpaceX to allow for recovery of rocket first-stages at sea for high-velocity missions which do not carry enough fuel to return to the launch site after lofting spacecraft onto an orbital trajectory.
Strap-On Booster B1025
| Serial Number | B1025 |
|---|---|
| Last Flight | 02/06/2018 |
| Successful Landings | 2 |
| Details | Retired. |
The strap on booster landed successfully at Landing Zone 2 in unison with its sibling booster.
Landing Zone 2 - LZ-2
LZ-2 Pad located at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station at the previous LC-13. Directly next to LZ-1
Return to Launch Site - RTLS
A return to launch site usually means that after stage separation the booster flips and does a burn back towards the launch site, landing near where it initially launched from.
A sonic boom may occur during booster recovery as the first stage returns to the landing zone. This atmospheric phenomenon creates a loud sound as the rocket breaks the sound barrier during its descent.
Strap-On Booster B1023
| Serial Number | B1023 |
|---|---|
| Last Flight | 02/06/2018 |
| Successful Landings | 2 |
| Details | Retired; on permanent display indoors at the Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex. |
The strap on booster landed successfully at Landing Zone 1 in unison with its sibling booster.
Landing Zone 1 - LZ-1
LZ-1 Pad located at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station at the previous LC-13.
Return to Launch Site - RTLS
A return to launch site usually means that after stage separation the booster flips and does a burn back towards the launch site, landing near where it initially launched from.
A sonic boom may occur during booster recovery as the first stage returns to the landing zone. This atmospheric phenomenon creates a loud sound as the rocket breaks the sound barrier during its descent.
About SpaceX
Space Exploration Technologies Corp., known as SpaceX, is an American aerospace manufacturer and space transport services company headquartered in Hawthorne, California. It was founded in 2002 by entrepreneur Elon Musk with the goal of reducing space transportation costs and enabling the colonization of Mars. SpaceX operates from many pads, on the East Coast of the US they operate from SLC-40 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station and historic LC-39A at Kennedy Space Center. They also operate from SLC-4E at Vandenberg Space Force Base, California, usually for polar launches. Another launch site is being developed at Boca Chica, Texas.
Frequently Asked Questions
When was the SpaceX Falcon Heavy Demo Flight 1 (Maiden Flight) launch scheduled?
The SpaceX Falcon Heavy Demo Flight 1 (Maiden Flight) launch was scheduled for:
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Where can I watch the SpaceX Falcon Heavy Demo Flight 1 (Maiden Flight) launch video?
You can watch the SpaceX Falcon Heavy launch video on this page. The official video includes full mission coverage with multiple camera angles, onboard views, and expert commentary covering pre-launch procedures, liftoff, stage separation, and payload deployment.
Where did the SpaceX Falcon Heavy Demo Flight 1 (Maiden Flight) mission launch from?
The SpaceX Falcon Heavy rocket launched from Launch Complex 39A at Kennedy Space Center, FL, USA. The John F. Kennedy Space Center, located on Merritt Island, Florida, is one of NASA's ten field centers. Since 1968, KSC has been NASA's primary launch center of American spaceflight, research, and technology. Launch operations for the Apollo, Skylab and Space Shuttle programs were carried out from Kennedy Space Center Launch Complex 39 and managed by KSC. Located on the east coast of Florida, KSC is adjacent to Cape Canaveral Space Force Station (CCSFS).
What rocket was used for the Demo Flight 1 (Maiden Flight) mission?
The Demo Flight 1 (Maiden Flight) mission launched aboard a SpaceX Falcon Heavy rocket. The Falcon Heavy is a variant of the Falcon 9 full thrust launch vehicle and consists of a standard Falcon 9 rocket core, with two additional boosters derived from the Falcon 9 first stage. Detailed rocket specifications and performance data are available in the rocket details above.
Did the SpaceX Falcon Heavy booster for Demo Flight 1 (Maiden Flight) attempt a landing?
Yes, the Falcon Heavy first stage booster attempted a Autonomous Spaceport Drone Ship at a designated landing zone. Booster recovery allows SpaceX to reuse rocket components, significantly reducing launch costs. Learn more about the landing details.
What weather conditions could have delayed the SpaceX Falcon Heavy Demo Flight 1 (Maiden Flight) launch?
The SpaceX Falcon Heavy Demo Flight 1 (Maiden Flight) launch could have been delayed by various weather conditions including lightning within 10 nautical miles, high winds (especially upper-level winds), thick cloud layers, precipitation, and poor visibility. Weather must be favorable at the launch site, downrange landing zones, and abort landing sites.
How can I get updates if the SpaceX Falcon Heavy Demo Flight 1 (Maiden Flight) launch was delayed?
This page was updated in real-time with the latest SpaceX Falcon Heavy launch status, including any delays or scrubs for the Demo Flight 1 (Maiden Flight) mission. You can also check our space launch schedule for historical launch information. Our mobile app provides push notifications for instant alerts about launch status changes. Official SpaceX live streams provided the most immediate range updates during the launch window.
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