We know that a few years ago, SpaceX proposed a Raptor powered second stage for Falcon Heavy, but what would this rocket look like, if it was to be built today? Here's my visualization of what it may look like; keep reading for more details.
Original tweet: https://twitter.com/StarshipFairing/status/1446218825427521538
https://preview.redd.it/ln29s6569qa81.png?width=2040&format=png&auto=webp&s=da58df5108025dd2b202f922030979e21c7e70a2
This second stage is powered by a single widened Raptor 2 Vacuum, and holds 240t of methalox propellant. Stage comparison below.
Second stage – Regular, Upgraded
Diameter – 3.66m, 5.18m
Dry mass – 4t, 10.5t
Propellant mass – 107.5t, 240t
Engine – Merlin Vacuum, Rvac Wide 2.9m
Thrust – 100tf, 263tf
Isp – 348s, 383s
This design will be able to put 60t into LEO while recovering all 3 first stage boosters downrange, and likely over 80t in its expendable configuration, way more than the 34t and 63.8t of the normal Falcon Heavy. However, this Raptor second stage will be less capable at high energy missions due to higher dry mass of the larger stage.
flight sim below (with RTLS, so less payload) by @ Phrankensteyn on twitter
https://preview.redd.it/k621vgataqa81.png?width=1452&format=png&auto=webp&s=60e85c517585235f603000bc3349bda6085f2b03
The next Falcon Heavy mission is USSF 44, which was postponed last year because the payload wasn't ready. The manifest says Q1. Is there any information on whether that's going to happen? The next crew launch is scheduled for March 31 from LC-39A, so if that holds, FH would need to go before that in order to make it in Q1.
In the latest episode of Star Talk with Neil De Grasse Tyson, Nathaniel Kahn claimed that the reason JWST is being launchd from French Guyana is because currently US doesnt have a rocket "Big Enough" to launch it. Is that accurate ?
Could Falcon Heavy would have launched it ?
Source: https://everydayastronaut.com/csg-2-falcon-9-block-5/
EDIT: Thanks to /u/AkronSnape and /u/DadofaBunch10, both Gunter's space page and the Next Spaceflight app say say that the Psyche mission will be fully recovered/RTLS (Gunter's only says fully recovered, where NS says explicitly that the boosters will return to the LZ 1 & 2). ALSO, all the launch schedule sites say NET August 1 for the Psyche Mission, However during the stream for IXPE, Omar Baez announced that the launch is in fact set for 8/1 1400 local: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JGij0x0PA_Q#t=1h12m34s Not sure why all the sites haven't picked up on that, or is there something that has come out since that supersedes that?
I want to go down to Florida to watch a Falcon Heavy Launch, but I also want it to be one where the boosters come back to land at the cape. Do we know yet if any of the planned launches will do that?
https://www.mediafire.com/file/g6642e7eb4od8ib/Falcon_heavy.zip/file
https://preview.redd.it/6lhr9sy7ts981.jpg?width=1599&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=5d5f6366fa85fcebadf4b95844ae99a510128bf8
I'm newer to the fan base, and I haven't seen a FH launch yet.
Hi friends I have a little Holiday offloading. Here is what I have:
timestamp: https://imgur.com/a/aZwwwa7
Matrix Falcon Mcflurry - Built With Marshmallow switches. Board has also been tape modded and filled with a thin packing foam. Board sounds absolutely amazing. The Mcflurry finish looks really good as well. Board will also come with the Gundam Badge that you can add on if you so please. Board does not come with keycaps.
$700 shipped CONUS NO TRADES
Norbaforce GOGF - Bought this a few months back from another user. Thought I would like the Polycarbonate finish but I guess it is really not my thing. I have included pictures of the board. Comes with a Realforce R2 white internals. built with # Silencing rings, Lake Blue 56g domes, buddyOG Gasket, and stabs lubed with 205g0. Looks great with white caps and has MX Stems so any non Topre caps will work. board also has some scuffs so please see that as well.
scuffs: https://imgur.com/gallery/l44kAOD
$600 Shipped CONUS. Will also trade for a non Polycarb Norbaforce or Heavy-9.
Comment before PM
this is the link where you can easily download it.
https://www.mediafire.com/file/g6642e7eb4od8ib/Falcon_heavy.zip/file
SFS orbital created this in his video but he did not give a blueprint, so I made it
