07/04/2019
The second flight of the most powerful rocket in operation is just days away. SpaceX is targeting Tuesday (April 9) for the next flight of its mega rocket, the Falcon Heavy.
On the afternoon of April 5, a shiny new Falcon Heavy roared to life, as smoke billowed from its engines during a preflight test. The brief ignition, known as a static fire test, is one of the last major milestones in launch preparations, ensuring that all systems are working properly and that the rocket is ready to fly.
The highly anticipated test went off without a hitch. So, Falcon Heavy seems set to fly for the first time since its maiden voyage in February 2018.
The upcoming mission, dubbed Arabsat 6A, will launch a large communications satellite for Saudi Arabian corporation Arabsat. Built by Lockheed Martin, the satellite is an advanced commercial communications satellite, designed to provide internet and communications services to residents of the Middle East, Africa and parts of Europe. Falcon Heavy is the most powerful rocket flying today, but it has only one spaceflight under its belt so far. The reusable rocket first launched on Feb. 6, 2018, ferrying Elon Musk's cherry-red Tesla Roadster "driven" by a spacesuit-wearing dummy named Starman into orbit. The nearly flawless first launch earned SpaceX major accolades, including coveted military launch contracts.
Falcon Heavy is expected to launch at 6:36 p.m. EDT (2236 GMT) on Tuesday. If all goes according to plan, the two side boosters will touch down in unison on their designated landing pad at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, while the central booster will land at sea, on one of the company’s two drone ships.
-Excerpts from https://www.space.com/spacex-falcon-heavy-static-fire-test.html