Falcon Heavy#Scheduled launches and potential payloads

Concepts for a Falcon Heavy launch vehicle using three Falcon 1 core boosters, with an approximate payload-to-LEO capacity of two tons,{{cite news|url=https://hobbyspace.com/AAdmin/archive/Interviews/Systems/ElonMusk.html |title=An Interview with Elon Musk|publisher=HobbySpace|date=August 25, 2003|access-date=February 14, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220212192921/https://hobbyspace.com/AAdmin/archive/Interviews/Systems/ElonMusk.html|archive-date=February 12, 2022|url-status=live}} were initially discussed as early as 2003.{{cite conference|last1=Musk|first1=Elon|last2=Koenigsmann|first2=Hans|last3=Gurevich|first3=Gwynne|url=https://digitalcommons.usu.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1745&context=smallsat |title=The Falcon Launch Vehicle – An Attempt at Making Access to Space More Affordable, Reliable and Pleasant|location=Logan, Utah|conference=17th Annual AIAA/USU Conference on Small Satellites|publisher=Utah State University|date=August 14, 2003|access-date=June 14, 2020|archive-date=14 June 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200614225022/https://digitalcommons.usu.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1745&context=smallsat|url-status=live}} The concept for three core booster stages of the company's as-yet-unflown Falcon 9 was referred to in 2005 as the Falcon 9 Heavy.{{cite web|last=Gaskill|first=Braddock |url=https://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2005/10/spacex-reveals-falcon-1-halloween-date/ |title=SpaceX reveals Falcon 1 Halloween date|publisher=NASASpaceFlight.com|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190131093831/https://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2005/10/spacex-reveals-falcon-1-halloween-date/|archive-date=January 31, 2019|url-status=live|date=October 10, 2005|access-date=January 31, 2019}}

SpaceX unveiled the plan for the Falcon Heavy to the public at a Washington, D.C., news conference in April 2011, with an initial test flight expected in 2013.{{cite news|last=Clark |first=Stephen|url=http://spaceflightnow.com/news/n1104/05falconheavy/ |title=SpaceX enters the realm of heavy-lift rocketry|publisher=Spaceflight Now|date=April 5, 2011|access-date=September 13, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130823003145/http://spaceflightnow.com/news/n1104/05falconheavy/|archive-date=August 23, 2013|url-status=live}}

A number of factors delayed the planned maiden flight to 2018, including two anomalies with Falcon 9 launch vehicles, which required all engineering resources to be dedicated to failure analysis, halting flight operations for many months. The integration and structural challenges of combining three Falcon 9 cores were much more difficult than expected.{{cite web|last=Wall |first=Mike|url=https://www.space.com/37550-elon-musk-spacex-falcon-heavy-maiden-launch.html |title=SpaceX's Big New Rocket May Crash on 1st Flight, Elon Musk Says|publisher=Space.com|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170721210130/https://www.space.com/37550-elon-musk-spacex-falcon-heavy-maiden-launch.html|archive-date=July 21, 2017|url-status=live|date=July 20, 2017|access-date=July 21, 2017}}

In July 2017, Elon Musk said, "It actually ended up being way harder to do Falcon Heavy than we thought. ... We were pretty naive about that".{{cite AV media |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BqvBhhTtUm4?t=852 |title=Elon Musk, ISS R&D Conference |date=July 19, 2017 |last=Musk |first=Elon |medium=video |language=en-us |location=ISS R&D Conference, Washington D.C., U.S. |time=36:00–39:50 |access-date=February 5, 2018 |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211113/BqvBhhTtUm4 |archive-date=2021-11-13 |url-status=live |quote=There is a lot of risk associated with the Falcon Heavy. There is a real good chance that the vehicle does not make it to orbit ... I hope it makes far enough away from the pad that it does not cause pad damage. I would consider even that a win, to be honest. ... I think Falcon Heavy is going to be a great vehicle. There is just so much that is really impossible to test on the ground. We'll do our best. ... It actually ended up being way harder to do Falcon Heavy than we thought. At first it sounds real easy; you just stick two first stages on as strap-on boosters. How hard can that be? But then everything changes. [the loads change, aerodynamics totally change, tripled vibration and acoustics, you break the qualification levels on all the hardware, redesign the center core airframe, separation systems] ... Really way, way more difficult than we originally thought. We were pretty naive about that. ... but optimized, its 2 1/2 times the payload capability of Falcon 9. |via=YouTube}}{{cbignore}}

The initial test flight for the first Falcon Heavy lifted off on 6 February 2018, at 20:45 UTC, carrying its dummy payload, Elon Musk's personal Tesla Roadster, beyond Mars orbit.{{cite news|first=William|last=Harwood |title=SpaceX Falcon Heavy launch puts on spectacular show in maiden flight|work=CBS News|url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/spacex-falcon-heavy-launch-spectacular-maiden-flight/|date=February 6, 2018|access-date=February 6, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180206230140/https://www.cbsnews.com/news/spacex-falcon-heavy-launch-spectacular-maiden-flight/|archive-date=February 6, 2018|url-status=live}}

Musk first mentioned Falcon Heavy in a September 2005 news update, referring to a customer request from 18 months prior.{{cite web|last1=Musk|first1=Elon |title=June 2005 through September 2005 Update |work=SpaceX |url=http://www.spacex.com/news/2005/12/19/june-2005-december-2005|access-date=June 24, 2017|date=December 20, 2005|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170704185552/http://www.spacex.com/news/2005/12/19/june-2005-december-2005|archive-date=July 4, 2017|url-status=live}} Various solutions using the planned Falcon 5 (which was never flown) had been explored, but the only cost-effective, reliable iteration was one that used a 9-engine first stage—the Falcon 9. The Falcon Heavy was developed using private capital with Musk stating that the cost was more than US$500 million. No government financing was provided for its development.{{cite journal |last=Boozer |first=R. D. |date=March 10, 2014 |title=Rocket reusability: a driver of economic growth |url=http://www.thespacereview.com/article/2466/1 |url-status=live |journal=The Space Review |volume=2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150406202450/http://thespacereview.com/article/2466/1 |archive-date=April 6, 2015 |access-date=March 25, 2014}}

File:F9 and Heavy visu.png, three versions of Falcon 9 v1.1, three versions of Falcon 9 v1.2 (Full Thrust), three versions of Falcon 9 Block 5, Falcon Heavy and Falcon Heavy Block 5]]

The Falcon Heavy design is based on Falcon 9's fuselage and engines. By 2008, SpaceX had been aiming for the first launch of Falcon 9 in 2009, while "Falcon 9 Heavy would be in a couple of years". Speaking at the 2008 Mars Society Conference, Musk also indicated that he expected a hydrogen-fueled upper stage would follow two to three years later (which would have been around 2013).{{cite web|last1=Musk|first1=Elon |title=Transcript – Elon Musk on the future of SpaceX|url=http://shitelonsays.com/transcript/elon-musk-on-the-future-of-spacex-2008-08-23 |website=shitelonsays.com|access-date=June 24, 2017|location=Mars Society Conference, Boulder Colorado|date=August 16, 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170315172412/http://shitelonsays.com/transcript/elon-musk-on-the-future-of-spacex-2008-08-23|archive-date=March 15, 2017|url-status=dead}}

By April 2011, the capabilities and performance of the Falcon 9 vehicle were better understood, SpaceX having completed two successful demonstration missions to low Earth orbit (LEO), one of which included reignition of the second-stage engine. At a press conference at the National Press Club in Washington, D.C., on 5 April 2011, Musk stated that Falcon Heavy would "carry more payload to orbit or escape velocity than any vehicle in history, apart from the Saturn V Moon rocket ... and Soviet Energia rocket". In the same year, with the expected increase in demand for both variants, SpaceX announced plans to expand manufacturing capacity "as we build towards the capability of producing a Falcon 9 first stage or Falcon Heavy side booster every week and an upper stage every two weeks".{{cite press release |title=F9/Dragon: Preparing for ISS |url=http://www.spacex.com/news/2013/02/09/f9dragon-preparing-iss|publisher=SpaceX|date=August 15, 2011|access-date=November 14, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161115070932/http://www.spacex.com/news/2013/02/09/f9dragon-preparing-iss|archive-date=November 15, 2016|url-status=live}}

In 2015, SpaceX announced a number of changes to the Falcon Heavy rocket, worked in parallel to the upgrade of the Falcon 9 v1.1 launch vehicle.{{cite news |last1=de Selding|first1=Peter B. |title=SpaceX Aims To Debut New Version of Falcon 9 this Summer|url=http://spacenews.com/spacex-aims-to-debut-new-version-of-falcon-9-this-summer/|access-date=March 23, 2015 |publisher=SpaceNews|date=March 20, 2015}} In December 2016, SpaceX released a photo showing the Falcon Heavy interstage at the company headquarters in Hawthorne, California.{{cite web |url=https://www.instagram.com/p/BOkwrgQAmI8/ |title=Falcon Heavy interstage being prepped at the rocket factory. When FH flies next year, it will be the most powerful operational rocket in the world by a factor of two|date=December 28, 2016|author=SpaceX|publisher=Instagram|access-date=June 24, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171203125723/https://www.instagram.com/p/BOkwrgQAmI8/|archive-date=December 3, 2017|url-status=live}}

By May 2013, a new, partly underground test stand was being built at the SpaceX Rocket Development and Test Facility in McGregor, Texas, specifically to test the triple cores and twenty-seven rocket engines of the Falcon Heavy.{{cite web |title=Falcon Heavy Test Stand|url=http://wikimapia.org/#lang=en&lat=31.398033&lon=-97.463373&z=19&m=b&show=/27437928/Falcon-Heavy-Test-Stand |access-date=May 6, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110826041141/http://www.wikimapia.org/#lang=en&lat=31.398033&lon=-97.463373&z=19&m=b&show=/27437928/Falcon-Heavy-Test-Stand|archive-date=August 26, 2011|url-status=live}} By May 2017, SpaceX conducted the first static fire test of flight-design Falcon Heavy center core at the McGregor facility.{{cite news|last1=Berger|first1=Eric |title=SpaceX proves Falcon Heavy is indeed a real rocket with a test firing|url=https://arstechnica.com/science/2017/05/spacex-releases-video-of-falcon-heavy-core-test-firing/|access-date=May 9, 2017|publisher=Ars Technica |date=May 9, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170509211329/https://arstechnica.com/science/2017/05/spacex-releases-video-of-falcon-heavy-core-test-firing/|archive-date=May 9, 2017|url-status=live}}{{cite tweet|user=SpaceX|number=862017305911320577 |title=First static fire test of a Falcon Heavy center core completed at our McGregor, TX rocket development facility last week. |access-date=May 13, 2017|date=May 9, 2017}}

In July 2017, Musk discussed publicly the challenges of testing a complex launch vehicle like the three-core Falcon Heavy, indicating that a large extent of the new design "is really impossible to test on the ground" and could not be effectively tested independent of actual flight tests.

By September 2017, all three first stage cores had completed their static fire tests on the ground test stand.{{cite tweet|user=SpaceX|number=903820580012474369 |title=Falcon Heavy's 3 first stage cores have all completed testing at our rocket development facility in McGregor, Texas|access-date=September 1, 2017|date=September 1, 2017}} The first Falcon Heavy static fire test was conducted on 24 January 2018.

{{Main|Falcon Heavy test flight}}

In April 2011, Musk was planning for a first launch of Falcon Heavy from Vandenberg Air Force Base, California on the United States west coast in 2013.{{cite web|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/space-business-rocket-idUSN0513302920110405 |title=U.S. SpaceX to build heavy-lift, low-cost rocket|access-date=April 5, 2011 |date=April 5, 2011|work=Reuters|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110408045714/http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/04/05/space-business-rocket-idUSN0513302920110405|archive-date=April 8, 2011|url-status=live}} SpaceX refurbished Launch Complex 4E at Vandenberg AFB to accommodate Falcon 9 and Heavy. The first launch from the Cape Canaveral, Florida east coast launch complex was planned for late 2013 or 2014.{{cite press release |title=SpaceX announces launch date for the world's most powerful rocket|url=http://www.spacex.com/press/2012/12/19/spacex-announces-launch-date-worlds-most-powerful-rocket|publisher=SpaceX|date=April 5, 2011|access-date=July 28, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170728161642/http://www.spacex.com/press/2012/12/19/spacex-announces-launch-date-worlds-most-powerful-rocket|archive-date=July 28, 2017|url-status=live}}

Due partly to the failure of SpaceX CRS-7 in June 2015, SpaceX rescheduled the maiden Falcon Heavy flight in September 2015 to occur no earlier than April 2016.{{cite news|last1=Foust|first1=Jeff |title=First Falcon Heavy Launch Scheduled for Spring|url=http://spacenews.com/first-falcon-heavy-launch-scheduled-for-spring/|access-date=September 3, 2015|publisher=SpaceNews|date=September 2, 2015|archive-date=2 September 2017|archive-url=http://webarchive.loc.gov/all/20170902194426/http://spacenews.com/first%2Dfalcon%2Dheavy%2Dlaunch%2Dscheduled%2Dfor%2Dspring/|url-status=live}} The flight was to be launched from the refurbished Kennedy Space Center Launch Complex 39A.{{cite web |title=Launch Schedule|url=http://spaceflightnow.com/launch-schedule/|publisher=Spaceflight Now|access-date=January 1, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160101234452/http://spaceflightnow.com/launch-schedule/|archive-date=January 1, 2016|url-status=live}}{{cite news|last=Foust|first=Jeff|url=http://spacenews.com/spacex-seeks-to-accelerate-falcon-9-production-and-launch-rates-this-year/ |title=SpaceX seeks to accelerate Falcon 9 production and launch rates this year|publisher=SpaceNews|date=February 4, 2016|access-date=February 6, 2016|archive-date=9 February 2016|archive-url=https://archive.today/20160209152801/http://spacenews.com/spacex-seeks-to-accelerate-falcon-9-production-and-launch-rates-this-year/|url-status=live}} The flight was postponed again to late 2016, early 2017,{{cite news|url=https://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2016/08/pad-changes-new-era-space-coast/ |title=Pad hardware changes preview new era for Space Coast|publisher=NASASpaceFlight.com|first=Chris|last=Bergin|date=August 9, 2016|access-date=August 16, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160817040321/https://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2016/08/pad-changes-new-era-space-coast/|archive-date=August 17, 2016|url-status=live}} summer 2017,{{cite news |title=SpaceX is pushing back the target launch date for its first Mars mission|date=February 17, 2017|url=https://www.theverge.com/2017/2/17/14652026/spacex-red-dragon-spacecraft-mars-mission-2020|publisher=The Verge|access-date=February 19, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170914083605/https://www.theverge.com/2017/2/17/14652026/spacex-red-dragon-spacecraft-mars-mission-2020 |archive-date=September 14, 2017|url-status=live}} late 2017{{cite web|url=http://spaceflightnow.com/launch-schedule/ |title=Launch Schedule|publisher=Spaceflight Now|last=Clark|first=Stephen |date=October 14, 2017|access-date=October 15, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161224185459/http://spaceflightnow.com/launch-schedule/|archive-date=December 24, 2016|url-status=live}} and finally to February 2018.{{Cite web|url=https://spaceflightnow.com/2017/11/28/debut-of-spacexs-falcon-heavy-rocket-now-planned-in-january/ |title=Debut of SpaceX's Falcon Heavy rocket now planned early next year|website=spaceflightnow.com|publisher=Spaceflight Now|access-date=November 29, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171201000049/https://spaceflightnow.com/2017/11/28/debut-of-spacexs-falcon-heavy-rocket-now-planned-in-january/|archive-date=December 1, 2017|url-status=live}}

At a July 2017 meeting of the International Space Station Research and Development meeting in Washington, D.C., Musk downplayed expectations for the success of the maiden flight:

There's a real good chance the vehicle won't make it to orbit ... I hope it makes it far enough away from the pad that it does not cause pad damage. I would consider even that a win, to be honest.

In December 2017, Musk tweeted that the dummy payload on the maiden Falcon Heavy launch would be his personal Tesla Roadster playing David Bowie's "Space Oddity" (though the song actually used for the launch was "Life on Mars"), and that it would be launched into an orbit around the Sun that will reach the orbit of Mars.{{cite web|last1=Plait|first1=Phil |title=Elon Musk: On the Roadster to Mars|url=https://www.syfy.com/syfywire/elon-musk-on-the-roadster-to-mars|publisher=Syfy Wire|access-date=December 7, 2017|date=December 2, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171204061444/http://www.syfy.com/syfywire/elon-musk-on-the-roadster-to-mars|archive-date=December 4, 2017|url-status=live}}{{cite web |url=http://spacenews.com/musk-says-tesla-car-will-fly-on-first-falcon-heavy-launch/ |title=Musk says Tesla car will fly on first Falcon Heavy launch|publisher=SpaceNews.com|date=December 2, 2017|access-date=December 3, 2017|archive-url=https://archive.today/20171220171712/http://spacenews.com/musk-says-tesla-car-will-fly-on-first-falcon-heavy-launch/|archive-date=December 20, 2017|url-status=live}} He released pictures in the following days.{{cite news|last1=Knapp|first1=Alex |title=Elon Musk Shows Off Photos of a Tesla Roadster Getting Prepped to Go to Mars

|url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/alexknapp/2017/12/22/elon-musk-shows-off-photos-of-tesla-roadster-prepped-to-go-to-mars/#54f169f47cbb|work=Forbes|access-date=December 23, 2017|date=December 22, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171223005903/https://www.forbes.com/sites/alexknapp/2017/12/22/elon-musk-shows-off-photos-of-tesla-roadster-prepped-to-go-to-mars/#54f169f47cbb|archive-date=December 23, 2017|url-status=live}} The car had three cameras attached to provide "epic views".

On December 28, 2017, the Falcon Heavy was moved to the launch pad in preparation of a static fire test of all 27 engines, which was expected on 19 January 2018.{{cite news |url=https://www.floridatoday.com/story/tech/science/space/2018/01/17/updates-spacex-targeting-falcon-heavy-test-fire-ksc-florida-before-launch/1041353001/ |title=SpaceX Falcon Heavy status updates: Now targeting Friday for test fire at KSC|last=Kelly|first=Emre|date=January 17, 2018|newspaper=Florida Today|access-date=January 18, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181104040936/https://www.floridatoday.com/story/tech/science/space/2018/01/17/updates-spacex-targeting-falcon-heavy-test-fire-ksc-florida-before-launch/1041353001/|archive-date=November 4, 2018|url-status=live}} However, due to the U.S. government shutdown that began on 20 January 2018, the testing and launch were further delayed.{{citation|first=Loren|last=Grush|url=https://www.theverge.com/2018/1/22/16918464/spacex-falcon-heavy-rocket-static-fire-delayed-shutdown |title=Shutdown means SpaceX can't test its Falcon Heavy rocket, creating further delays|date=January 22, 2018|publisher=The Verge|access-date=January 22, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180122205914/https://www.theverge.com/2018/1/22/16918464/spacex-falcon-heavy-rocket-static-fire-delayed-shutdown|archive-date=January 22, 2018|url-status=live}} The static fire test was conducted on 24 January 2018.{{cite news|url=https://www.theverge.com/2018/1/24/16841580/spacex-falcon-heavy-rocket-static-fire-first-launch |title=SpaceX performs crucial test fire of Falcon Heavy, potentially paving way for launch|publisher=The Verge|access-date=January 24, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180124200841/https://www.theverge.com/2018/1/24/16841580/spacex-falcon-heavy-rocket-static-fire-first-launch|archive-date=January 24, 2018|url-status=live}}{{citation|first=Dennis|last=Kapatos |title=01/24/2018 – Historic Falcon 9 Heavy Test Fire!|date=January 24, 2018|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NuXHriwQB9g|access-date=January 24, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180124180829/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NuXHriwQB9g|archive-date=January 24, 2018|url-status=live}} Musk confirmed via Twitter that the test "was good" and later announced the rocket would be launched on 6 February 2018.{{cite tweet|user=elonmusk|number=957361443023695872|date=January 27, 2018 |title=Aiming for first flight of Falcon Heavy on February 6 from Apollo launchpad 39A at Cape Kennedy. Easy viewing from the public causeway.}}

File:Falcon Heavy Demo Mission (40126461851).jpg]]

On 6 February 2018, after a delay of over two hours due to high winds,{{cite tweet|user=SpaceX|number=960948676557352960|date=February 6, 2018 |title=Continue to monitor the upper level wind shear. New T-0 is 3:45 p.m. EST, 20:45 UTC.}} Falcon Heavy lifted off at 20:45 UTC. Its side boosters landed safely on Landing Zones 1 and 2 a few minutes later.{{cite tweet|user=elonmusk|number=960980119312453632|date=February 6, 2018 |title=Falcon Heavy side cores have landed at SpaceX's Landing Zones 1 and 2.}} However, only one of the three engines on the center booster that were intended to restart ignited during descent, causing the booster to be destroyed upon impacting the ocean at a speed of over {{cvt|480|km/h}}.{{cite news |url=https://gizmodo.com/spacex-recovered-the-falcon-heavys-two-boosters-but-it-1822788896 |title=SpaceX Landed the Falcon Heavy's Two Boosters, But Its Core Clipped Its Drone Ship at 300 MPH|work=Gizmodo |access-date=February 7, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180207120708/https://gizmodo.com/spacex-recovered-the-falcon-heavys-two-boosters-but-it-1822788896|archive-date=February 7, 2018|url-status=live}}{{cite news|url=https://www.theverge.com/2018/2/6/16980954/spacex-falcon-heavy-rocket-middle-core-failed-landing |title=The middle booster of SpaceX's Falcon Heavy rocket failed to land on its drone ship|publisher=The Verge|access-date=February 7, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180207011823/https://www.theverge.com/2018/2/6/16980954/spacex-falcon-heavy-rocket-middle-core-failed-landing|archive-date=February 7, 2018|url-status=live}}

Initially, Elon Musk tweeted that the Roadster had overshot its planned heliocentric orbit, and would reach the asteroid belt. Later, observations by telescopes showed that the Roadster would only slightly exceed the orbit of Mars at aphelion.{{cite news|url=https://www.theverge.com/2018/2/6/16983744/spacex-tesla-falcon-heavy-roadster-orbit-asteroid-belt-elon-musk-mars |title=Elon Musk's Tesla overshot Mars' orbit, but it won't reach the asteroid belt as claimed|publisher=The Verge|access-date=February 27, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180208180617/https://www.theverge.com/2018/2/6/16983744/spacex-tesla-falcon-heavy-roadster-orbit-asteroid-belt-elon-musk-mars|archive-date=February 8, 2018|url-status=live}}

{{Main|List of Falcon 9 and Falcon Heavy launches}}

File:KSC-20190624-PH_KLS01_0056.jpg specifications on the launch pad in June 2019]]

A year after the successful demo flight, SpaceX had signed five commercial contracts worth US$500–750 million, meaning that it had managed to cover the development cost of the rocket.{{cite web |url=https://www.cnbc.com/2019/02/13/spacex-falcon-heavy-rocket-one-year-later-business-case.html |title=A year after the colossal SpaceX rocket's debut, Falcon Heavy has 'high value' uses – despite skepticism|website=CNBC|date=8 February 2019|access-date=November 2, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191102202708/https://www.cnbc.com/2019/02/13/spacex-falcon-heavy-rocket-one-year-later-business-case.html|archive-date=November 2, 2019|url-status=live}} The second flight, and first commercial one, occurred on 11 April 2019,{{cite web |title=SpaceX Falcon Heavy launch with Arabsat reset for Tuesday|url=https://www.upi.com/Top_News/US/2019/04/05/SpaceX-Falcon-Heavy-launch-with-Arabsat-reset-for-Tuesday/4451554466792/|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190412223117/https://www.upi.com/Top_News/US/2019/04/05/SpaceX-Falcon-Heavy-launch-with-Arabsat-reset-for-Tuesday/4451554466792/|archive-date=April 12, 2019|access-date=April 12, 2019|work=UPI}} launching Arabsat-6A, with all three boosters landing successfully for the first time.

The third flight occurred on 25 June 2019, launching the STP-2 (DoD Space Test Program) payload. The payload was composed of 25 small spacecraft. Operational Geostationary transfer orbit (GTO) missions for Intelsat and Inmarsat, which were planned for late 2017, were moved to the Falcon 9 Full Thrust rocket version as it had become powerful enough to lift those heavy payloads in its expendable configuration. In June 2022, the U.S. Space Force certified Falcon Heavy for launching its top secret satellites, with the first such launch being USSF-44 which happened at 1 November 2022;{{Cite web |last=Wattles |first=Jackie |date=2022-11-01 |title=SpaceX's Falcon Heavy rocket returns to flight after three years |url=https://www.cnn.com/2022/11/01/business/spacex-falcon-heavy-launch-ussf-44-scn/index.html |access-date=2022-11-01 |website=CNN |language=en |archive-date=1 November 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221101141012/https://www.cnn.com/2022/11/01/business/spacex-falcon-heavy-launch-ussf-44-scn/index.html |url-status=live }} and the second of which being USSF-67,{{Cite web |url=https://www.space.com/spacex-falcon-heavy-ussf-67-mission-success |title=SpaceX's Falcon Heavy rocket launches classified mission for US Space Force |website=Space.com |date=15 January 2023 |access-date=16 January 2023 |archive-date=16 January 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230116014741/https://www.space.com/spacex-falcon-heavy-ussf-67-mission-success |url-status=live }} which was launched 11 weeks after USSF-44. ViaSat selected the Falcon Heavy in late 2018 for the launch of its ViaSat-3 satellite which was scheduled to launch in the 2020–2022 timeframe;{{cite web|url=https://investors.viasat.com/news-releases/news-release-details/viasat-spacex-enter-contract-future-viasat-3-satellite-launch |title=Viasat, SpaceX Enter Contract for a Future ViaSat-3 Satellite Launch|date=October 25, 2018|access-date=October 14, 2024}} however it would not launch until 1 May 2023.{{Cite web|url=https://news.viasat.com/newsroom/press-releases/viasat-3-americas-successfully-launched|title=ViaSat-3 Americas Successfully Launched|date=1 May 2023|website=viasat.com}} On 13 October 2023, Falcon Heavy embarked on its 8th flight carrying NASA's Psyche probe to the asteroid 16 Psyche. This mission only had the side boosters return to Earth with the center core expended, a decision made to create more tolerable margins for the mission.

Following the announcement of NASA's Artemis program of returning humans to the Moon, the Falcon Heavy rocket has been mentioned several times as an alternative to the expensive Space Launch System (SLS) program, but NASA decided to exclusively use SLS to launch the Orion capsule.{{cite web|url=https://www.cnet.com/news/nasa-head-rules-out-spacex-rockets-for-2024-moon-mission/ |title=NASA head rules out SpaceX rockets for 2024 moon mission |access-date=November 2, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190712164252/https://www.cnet.com/news/nasa-head-rules-out-spacex-rockets-for-2024-moon-mission/|publisher=CNET|archive-date=July 12, 2019 |url-status=live}}{{cite web|last=Grush|first=Loren|url=https://www.theverge.com/2019/7/18/18629403/nasa-artemis-moon-program-funds-hardware-apollo-11-anniversary |title=NASA's daunting to-do list for sending people back to the Moon|publisher=The Verge|date=July 18, 2019|access-date=August 28, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191207085513/https://www.theverge.com/2019/7/18/18629403/nasa-artemis-moon-program-funds-hardware-apollo-11-anniversary|archive-date=December 7, 2019|url-status=live}} However, Falcon Heavy will support commercial missions for the Artemis program,{{cite web|url=https://arstechnica.com/science/2019/10/as-nasa-tries-to-land-on-the-moon-it-has-plenty-of-rockets-to-choose-from/ |title=As NASA tries to land on the Moon, it has plenty of rockets to choose from|date=10 October 2019|access-date=November 2, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191102202710/https://arstechnica.com/science/2019/10/as-nasa-tries-to-land-on-the-moon-it-has-plenty-of-rockets-to-choose-from/|archive-date=November 2, 2019|url-status=live}} since it will be used to transport the Dragon XL spacecraft to the Lunar Gateway. It was also selected to launch the first two elements of the Lunar Gateway, the Power and Propulsion Element (PPE), and the Habitation and Logistics Outpost (HALO), on a single launch no earlier than 2025,{{Cite web |last=Dunbar |first=Brian |date=2023-12-18 |title=Gateway |url=https://www.nasa.gov/mission/gateway |access-date=2023-12-25 |website=NASA}} and to launch NASA's VIPER rover aboard Astrobotic Technology's Griffin lander as part of the Artemis Program's Commercial Lunar Payload Services (CLPS) initiative.{{cite web|last=Foust|first=Jeff|url=https://spacenews.com/astrobotic-selects-falcon-heavy-to-launch-nasas-viper-lunar-rover/|title=Astrobotic selects Falcon Heavy to launch NASA's VIPER lunar rover|publisher=SpaceNews|date=13 April 2021|access-date=13 April 2021|archive-date=19 April 2021|archive-url=https://archive.today/20210419082626/https://spacenews.com/astrobotic-selects-falcon-heavy-to-launch-nasas-viper-lunar-rover/|url-status=live}} On October 14, 2024, Falcon Heavy transported NASA's Europa Clipper into space to explore Jupiter's moon Europa.{{Cite web |title=NASA and SpaceX Set for Europa Clipper Launch on October 14 |url=https://www.spacedaily.com/reports/NASA_and_SpaceX_Set_for_Europa_Clipper_Launch_on_October_14_999.html |access-date=2024-10-12 |website=Space Daily}}

File:Falcon Heavy cropped.jpg]]

Falcon Heavy consists of a structurally strengthened Falcon 9 as the "core" component, with two additional Falcon 9 first stages with aerodynamic nose-cones mounted outboard serving as strap-on boosters,{{cite news|url=http://www.spacex.com/falcon9 |title=Falcon 9 Overview|date=May 8, 2010|publisher=SpaceX|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140805175724/http://www.spacex.com/falcon9|archive-date=August 5, 2014}} conceptually similar to Delta IV Heavy launcher and proposals for the Atlas V Heavy and Russian Angara A5V. This triple first stage carries a standard Falcon 9 second stage, which in turn carries the payload in a fairing. Falcon Heavy has the second highest lift capability of any operational rocket, with a payload of {{cvt|63800|kg}} to low Earth orbit, {{cvt|26700|kg}} to Geostationary Transfer Orbit, and {{cvt|16800|kg}} to trans-Mars injection.{{cite web|date=2020 |title=Falcon Heavy Overview|url=https://www.spacex.com/vehicles/falcon-heavy/|access-date=August 12, 2020|publisher=SpaceX|archive-date=17 June 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200617035534/https://www.spacex.com/vehicles/falcon-heavy/|url-status=live}} The rocket was designed to meet or exceed all current requirements of human rating. The structural safety margins are 40% above flight loads, higher than the 25% margins of other rockets.{{cite web |title=SpaceX Announces Launch Date for the World's Most Powerful Rocket| date=5 April 2011 |url=http://www.spaceref.com/news/viewpr.html?pid=33185|publisher=SpaceRef.com|access-date=April 10, 2011|archive-date=4 January 2013|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130104174313/http://www.spaceref.com/news/viewpr.html?pid=33185|url-status=live}} Falcon Heavy was designed from the outset to carry humans into space and it would restore the possibility of flying crewed missions to the Moon or Mars.

File:SpaceX Testing Merlin 1D Engine In Texas.jpg

The first stage is powered by three Falcon 9 derived cores, each equipped with nine Merlin 1D engines. The Falcon Heavy has a total sea-level thrust at liftoff of {{cvt|2327|t-f|MN lbf|order=out}}, from the 27 Merlin 1D engines, while thrust rises to {{cvt|2517|t-f|MN lbf|order=out}} as the craft climbs out of the atmosphere. The upper stage is powered by a single Merlin 1D engine modified for vacuum operation, with a thrust of {{cvt|95.2|t-f|kN lbf|order=out}}, an expansion ratio of 117:1 and a nominal burn time of 397 seconds. At launch, the center core throttles to full power for a few seconds for additional thrust, then throttles down. This allows a longer burn time. After the side boosters separate, the center core throttles back up to maximum thrust. For added reliability of restart, the engine has dual redundant pyrophoric igniters (Triethylaluminium-Triethylborane) (TEA-TEB). The interstage, which connects the upper and lower stage for Falcon 9, is a carbon fiber aluminum core composite structure. Stage separation occurs via reusable separation collets and a pneumatic pusher system. The Falcon 9 tank walls and domes are made from Aluminum–lithium alloy. SpaceX uses an all-friction stir welded tank. The second stage tank of Falcon 9 is simply a shorter version of the first stage tank and uses most of the same tooling, material, and manufacturing techniques. This approach reduces manufacturing costs during vehicle production.

All three cores of the Falcon Heavy arrange the engines in a structural form SpaceX calls Octaweb, aimed at streamlining the manufacturing process,{{cite web |title=Octaweb |work=SpaceX |url=http://www.spacex.com/news/2013/04/12/falcon-heavy-octaweb|date=April 12, 2013|access-date=August 2, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170703135212/http://www.spacex.com/news/2013/04/12/falcon-heavy-octaweb|archive-date=July 3, 2017|url-status=live |last1=Shanklin |first1=Emily }} and each core includes four extensible landing legs.{{cite web |title=Landing Legs|url=http://www.spacex.com/news/2013/04/12/falcon-heavy-landing-legs|date=April 12, 2013|publisher=SpaceX|access-date=August 2, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170703135207/http://www.spacex.com/news/2013/04/12/falcon-heavy-landing-legs|archive-date=July 3, 2017|url-status=live}} To control the descent of the boosters and center core through the atmosphere, SpaceX uses four retractable grid fins at the top of each of the three Falcon 9 boosters, which extend after separation.{{cite web|last1=Kremer|first1=Ken |title=Falcon Heavy Rocket Launch and Booster Recovery Featured in Cool New SpaceX Animation|url=http://www.universetoday.com/118549/falcon-heavy-rocket-launch-and-booster-recovery-featured-in-cool-new-spacex-animation/|publisher=Universe Today|access-date=February 12, 2015 |date=January 27, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170825183922/https://www.universetoday.com/118549/falcon-heavy-rocket-launch-and-booster-recovery-featured-in-cool-new-spacex-animation/|archive-date=August 25, 2017|url-status=live}} Immediately after the side boosters separate, three engines in each continues to burn for a few seconds in order to control the booster's trajectory safely away from the rocket.{{Source-attribution|sentence=yes|{{cite report|last=Nield|first=George C. |title=Draft Environmental Impact Statement: SpaceX Texas Launch Site|volume=1|date=April 2014|pages=2–3 |url=http://1.usa.gov/YtxBzo|publisher=Federal Aviation Administration, Office of Commercial Space Transportation|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131207085028/http://www.faa.gov/about/office_org/headquarters_offices/ast/environmental/nepa_docs/review/documents_progress/spacex_texas_launch_site_environmental_impact_statement/media/SpaceX_Texas_Launch_Site_Draft_EIS_V1.pdf|archive-date=December 7, 2013}} }} The grid fins then deploy as the boosters turn back to Earth, followed by the landing legs. The side boosters land softly on the ground in fully/partially reusable launch configuration. The center core continues to fire until stage separation. In fully reusable launches, its grid fins and legs deploy and the center core touches down on a drone ship. If boosters are expended, then the landing legs and grid fins are omitted from the vehicle. The landing legs are made of carbon fiber with aluminum honeycomb structure. The four legs stow along the sides of each core during liftoff and extend outward and down just before landing.{{cite news|last=Simberg|first=Rand |title=Elon Musk on SpaceX's Reusable Rocket Plans |url=http://www.popularmechanics.com/science/space/rockets/elon-musk-on-spacexs-reusable-rocket-plans-6653023|access-date=February 7, 2012|publisher=Popular Mechanics|date=February 8, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141006092432/http://www.popularmechanics.com/science/space/rockets/elon-musk-on-spacexs-reusable-rocket-plans-6653023|archive-date=October 6, 2014|url-status=live}}

The Falcon Heavy uses a {{cvt|4.5|m}} interstage attached to the first stage core. It is a composite structure consisting of an aluminum honeycomb core surrounded by carbon fiber face sheet plies. Unlike for Falcon 9, the black thermal protection layer on the interstage of Block 5 center core boosters is later painted white, as seen in the Falcon Heavy flights so far, probably due to aesthetics of the Falcon Heavy Logo, providing it a greyish look.{{Cite web |title=SpaceX Falcon Heavy : USSF-67 : KSC LC-39A : 15 January 2023 (22:56 UTC) |url=https://forum.nasaspaceflight.com/index.php?topic=53881.msg2449996#msg2449996 |access-date=2023-01-31 |website=forum.nasaspaceflight.com |archive-date=31 January 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230131165437/https://forum.nasaspaceflight.com/index.php?topic=53881.msg2449996#msg2449996 |url-status=live }} The overall length of the vehicle at launch is {{cvt|70|m}}, and the total fueled mass is {{cvt|1420|t|lb}}. Without recovery of any stage, the Falcon Heavy can theoretically inject a {{cvt|63.8|t|lb}} payload into a low Earth orbit, or {{cvt|16.8|t|lb}} to Venus or Mars. However, because of the structural limitations the maximum weight Falcon Heavy can lift is reduced.{{cite web |title=GAO-22-105212 – NASA Assessments of Major Projects, June 2022 |url=https://www.gao.gov/assets/gao-22-105212.pdf |publisher=United States Government Accountability Office}}

The Falcon Heavy includes first-stage recovery systems, to allow SpaceX to return the first stage boosters to the launch site as well as recover the first stage core following landing at an Autonomous Spaceport Drone Ship barge after completion of primary mission requirements. These systems include four deployable landing legs, which are locked against each first-stage tank core during ascent and deploy just prior to touchdown. Excess propellant reserved for Falcon Heavy first-stage recovery operations will be diverted for use on the primary mission objective, if required, ensuring sufficient performance margins for successful missions. The nominal payload capacity to a geostationary transfer orbit (GTO) is {{cvt|8|t|lb}} with recovery of all three first-stage cores (the price per launch is US$97 million), versus {{cvt|26.7|t|lb}} in fully expendable mode. The Falcon Heavy can also inject a {{cvt|16|t|lb}} payload into GTO if only the two side boosters are recovered.

File:Arabsat-6A Mission (40628437283).jpg in 2019]]

The partially reusable Falcon Heavy falls into the heavy-lift range of launch systems, capable of lifting {{cvt|20|-|50|t|lb}} into low Earth orbit (LEO), under the classification system used by a NASA human spaceflight review panel.{{Source-attribution|sentence=yes|{{cite web|url=https://www.nasa.gov/pdf/396093main_HSF_Cmte_FinalReport.pdf |title=Seeking a Human Spaceflight Program Worthy of a Great Nation|date=October 2009|publisher=NASA|access-date=June 24, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111213100849/http://www.nasa.gov/pdf/396093main_HSF_Cmte_FinalReport.pdf|archive-date=December 13, 2011|url-status=live}} }} A fully expendable Falcon Heavy is in the super heavy-lift category with a maximum payload of {{cvt|64|t|lb}} to low Earth orbit.

The initial concept (Falcon 9-S9 2005) envisioned payloads of {{cvt|24.75|t|lb}} to LEO, but by April 2011 this was projected to be up to {{cvt|53|t|lb}} with geostationary transfer orbit (GTO) payloads up to {{cvt|12|t|lb}}. Later reports in 2011 projected higher payloads beyond LEO, including {{cvt|19|t|lb}} to geostationary transfer orbit,{{cite web |title=SpaceX Brochure|url=http://www.spacex.com/downloads/spacex-brochure.pdf|access-date=June 14, 2011|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110809000459/http://www.spacex.com/downloads/spacex-brochure.pdf|archive-date=August 9, 2011}} {{cvt|16|t|lb}} to translunar trajectory, and {{cvt|14|t|lb}} on a trans-Martian orbit to Mars.{{cite web |title=SpaceX Press Conference|url=http://www.spacex.com/multimedia/videos.php?id=60|publisher=SpaceX|access-date=April 16, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120320034746/http://www.spacex.com/multimedia/videos.php?id=60|archive-date=March 20, 2012|url-status=live}}{{cite web |title=Feasibility of a Dragon-derived Mars lander for scientific and human-precursor investigations|publisher=8m.net|date=October 31, 2011|url=http://digitalvideo.8m.net/SpaceX/RedDragon/karcz-red_dragon-nac-2011-10-29-1.pdf|access-date=May 14, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120616154043/http://digitalvideo.8m.net/SpaceX/RedDragon/karcz-red_dragon-nac-2011-10-29-1.pdf|archive-date=June 16, 2012|url-status=live}}

By late 2013, SpaceX raised the projected GTO payload for Falcon Heavy to {{cvt|21.2|t|lb}}.{{cite web |title=Capabilities & Services|url=http://www.spacex.com/about/capabilities|year=2013|access-date=March 25, 2014|publisher=SpaceX|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131007205105/http://www.spacex.com/about/capabilities|archive-date=October 7, 2013}}

File:Falcon heavy June 2019.jpg

In April 2017, the projected LEO payload for Falcon Heavy was raised from {{cvt|54.4|to|63.8|t|lb}}. The maximum payload is achieved when the rocket flies a fully expendable launch profile, not recovering any of the three first-stage boosters. With just the core booster expended, and two side-boosters recovered, Musk estimates the payload penalty to be around 10%, which would still yield over {{cvt|57|t|lb}} of lift capability to LEO.{{cite tweet|number=963094533830426624 |title=Side boosters landing on droneships & center expended is only ~10% performance penalty vs fully expended. Cost is only slightly higher than an expended F9, so around US$95 million.|user=elonmusk|date=February 12, 2018}} Returning all three boosters to the launch site rather than landing them on drone ships would yield about 30 t of payload to LEO.{{cite AV media |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tdUX3ypDVwI&t=15m35s |title=Becoming a Multiplanet Species |date=September 29, 2017 |last=Musk |first=Elon |medium=video |language=en-us |publisher=SpaceX |location=Adelaide Australia |access-date=December 17, 2018 |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211113/tdUX3ypDVwI |archive-date=2021-11-13 |url-status=live |via=YouTube}}{{cbignore}}

{{main|SpaceX reusable launch system development program}}

File:Falcon Heavy Side Boosters landing on LZ1 and LZ2 - 2018 (25254688767).jpg land in unison at Cape Canaveral Landing Zones 1 and 2 following a test flight on 6 February 2018]]

From 2013 to 2016, SpaceX conducted parallel development of a reusable rocket architecture for Falcon 9, that applies to parts of Falcon Heavy as well. Early on, SpaceX had expressed hopes that all rocket stages would eventually be reusable.{{cite web|url=https://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2009/01/musk-ambition-spacex-aim-for-fully-reusable-falcon-9/ |title=Musk ambition: SpaceX aim for fully reusable Falcon 9|date=January 12, 2009|first=Chris|last=Bergin|publisher=NASASpaceFlight.com|access-date=June 24, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170705234507/https://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2009/01/musk-ambition-spacex-aim-for-fully-reusable-falcon-9/|archive-date=July 5, 2017|url-status=live}} SpaceX has since demonstrated routine land and sea recovery of the Falcon 9 first stage, and have successfully recovered multiple payload fairings.{{cite web |title=Fairing Recovery Attempts|url=https://www.spacexfleet.com/fairing-data|publisher=SpaceXFleet|access-date=13 June 2020|archive-date=19 June 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200619175327/https://www.spacexfleet.com/fairing-data|url-status=live}}{{cite web|url=https://spaceflightnow.com/2017/03/31/spacex-flies-rocket-for-second-time-in-historic-test-of-cost-cutting-technology/ |title=SpaceX flies rocket for second time in historic test of cost-cutting technology|date=March 31, 2017|first=Stephen|last=Clark |publisher=Spaceflight Now|access-date=June 24, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170609202728/https://spaceflightnow.com/2017/03/31/spacex-flies-rocket-for-second-time-in-historic-test-of-cost-cutting-technology/|archive-date=June 9, 2017|url-status=live}} In the case of Falcon Heavy, the two outer cores separate from the rocket earlier in the flight, and are thus moving at a lower velocity than in a Falcon 9 launch profile. For the first flight of Falcon Heavy, SpaceX had considered attempting to recover the second stage,{{cite tweet|user=elonmusk |number=847882289581359104 |title=Considering trying to bring upper stage back on Falcon Heavy demo flight for full reusability. Odds of success low, but maybe worth a shot.|date=March 31, 2017|access-date=June 24, 2017}} but did not execute this plan.

Falcon Heavy payload performance to geosynchronous transfer orbit (GTO) is reduced by the reusable technology, but at a much lower price. When recovering all three booster cores, GTO payload is {{cvt|8|t|lb}}. If only the two outside cores are recovered while the center core is expended, GTO payload would be approximately {{cvt|16|t|lb}}. As a comparison, the next-heaviest contemporary rocket until April 2024, the fully expendable Delta IV Heavy, could deliver {{cvt|14.2|t|lb}} to GTO.{{cite web|url=https://www.ulalaunch.com/rockets/delta-iv/ |title=ULA Delta IV Reference Page|publisher=United Launch Alliance|access-date=February 7, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180208023200/https://www.ulalaunch.com/rockets/delta-iv|archive-date=February 8, 2018|url-status=live}}

Falcon Heavy was originally designed with a "propellant crossfeed" capability, whereby the center core engines would be supplied with fuel and oxidizer from the two side cores until their separation.{{cite web|last=Strickland|first=John K. Jr. |title=The SpaceX Falcon Heavy Booster|date=September 2011|url=http://www.nss.org/articles/falconheavy.html |publisher=National Space Society|access-date=November 24, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130117112834/http://www.nss.org/articles/falconheavy.html|archive-date=January 17, 2013|url-status=live}} This approach had previously been proposed by Vladimir Chelomei for the UR-700 launch system. Operating all engines at full thrust from launch, with fuel supplied mainly from the side boosters, would deplete the side boosters sooner, allowing their earlier separation to reduce the mass being accelerated. This would leave most of the center core propellant available after booster separation.{{cite web|url=http://www.spaceref.com/news/viewpr.html?pid=33185 |title=SpaceX Announces Launch Date for the World's Most Powerful Rocket|publisher=SpaceX|date=April 5, 2011|access-date=April 5, 2011|archive-date=4 January 2013|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130104174313/http://www.spaceref.com/news/viewpr.html?pid=33185|url-status=live}}

Musk stated in 2016 that crossfeed would not be implemented.{{cite tweet|user=elonmusk|number=726561442636263425 |title="Does FH expendable performance include crossfeed?" "No cross feed. It would help performance, but is not needed for these numbers".|date=May 1, 2016|access-date=June 24, 2017}} Instead, the center booster throttles down shortly after liftoff to conserve fuel, and resumes full thrust after the side boosters have separated.

At an appearance in May 2004 before the United States Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, Musk testified, "Long term plans call for development of a heavy lift product and even a super-heavy, if there is customer demand. We expect that each size increase would result in a meaningful decrease in cost per pound to orbit. ... Ultimately, I believe US$500 per pound or less is very achievable".{{cite web|url=http://www.spaceref.com/news/viewsr.html?pid=12774|date=May 5, 2004 |title=Space Shuttle and the Future of Space Launch Vehicles|author=Testimony of Elon Musk|publisher=SpaceRef|access-date=June 24, 2017|archive-date=9 September 2012|archive-url=https://archive.today/20120909215713/http://www.spaceref.com/news/viewsr.html?pid=12774|url-status=live}} This {{cvt|1100|$/kg}} goal stated by Musk in 2011 is 35% of the cost of the lowest-cost-per-pound LEO-capable launch system in a 2001 study: the Zenit, a medium-lift launch vehicle that could carry {{cvt|14|t|lb}} into LEO for US$35–50 million.{{cite web|last=Sietzen|first=Frank Jr. |title=Spacelift Washington: International Space Transportation Association Faltering; The myth of US$10,000 per pound|url=http://www.spaceref.com/news/viewnews.html?id=301|publisher=SpaceRef|access-date=June 24, 2017|date=March 18, 2001|archive-date=13 September 2012|archive-url=https://archive.today/20120913114855/http://www.spaceref.com/news/viewnews.html?id=301|url-status=live}} In 2011, SpaceX stated that the cost of reaching low Earth orbit could be as low as {{cvt|2200|$/kg}} if an annual rate of four launches can be sustained, and as of 2011 planned to eventually launch as many as 10 Falcon Heavies and 10 Falcon 9s annually.

The published prices for Falcon Heavy launches have changed as development progressed, with announced prices for the various versions of Falcon Heavy priced at US$80–125 million in 2011,{{cite web|last=Clark|first=Stephen|url=http://spaceflightnow.com/news/n1104/05falconheavy/ |title=SpaceX enters the realm of heavy-lift rocketry|publisher=Spaceflight Now|date=April 5, 2011|access-date=June 4, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130823003145/http://spaceflightnow.com/news/n1104/05falconheavy/|archive-date=August 23, 2013|url-status=live}} US$83–128 million in 2012,{{cite web|url=https://www.spacex.com/vehicles/falcon-heavy/|title=Space Exploration Technologies Corporation – Falcon Heavy|publisher=SpaceX|date=2022|access-date=April 1, 2023|archive-date=30 April 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230430094111/https://www.spacex.com/vehicles/falcon-heavy/|url-status=live}} US$77–135 million in 2013,{{cite web|url=http://www.spacex.com/about/capabilities |title=Capabilities and Services |access-date=September 28, 2013|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131007205105/http://www.spacex.com/about/capabilities|archive-date=October 7, 2013|date=November 28, 2012}} Retrieved 25 March 2014 US$85 million for up to {{cvt|6.4|t|lb}} to GTO in 2014, US$90 million for up to {{cvt|8|t|lb}} to GTO in 2016.{{cite web |url=http://www.spacex.com/about/capabilities |title=Capabilities and Services|work=SpaceX |date=May 3, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140702095808/http://www.spacex.com/about/capabilities |archive-date=July 2, 2014 |author1=Spacexcmsadmin }}

From 2017 to early 2022, the price has been stated at US$150 million for {{cvt|63.8|t|lb}} to LEO or {{cvt|26.7|t|lb}} to GTO (fully expendable).{{cite web |title=SpaceX|url=http://www.spacex.com/|access-date=2020-06-04|publisher=SpaceX|archive-date=7 March 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110307010135/http://www.spacex.com/|url-status=live}} This equates to a price of US$2,350 per kg to LEO and US$5,620 per kg to GTO. In 2022, the published price for a reusable launch was $97 million.{{cite web |year=2022 |title=Capabilities & Services |url=https://www.spacex.com/media/Capabilities&Services.pdf |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220322170331/https://www.spacex.com/media/Capabilities&Services.pdf |archive-date=March 22, 2022 |access-date=March 22, 2022 |publisher=SpaceX}} In 2022 NASA contracted with SpaceX to launch the Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope on a Falcon Heavy for approximately $255 million, including launch service and other mission related costs.{{Cite web |last=Dodson |first=Gerelle |date=2022-07-18 |title=NASA Awards Launch Services Contract for Roman Space Telescope |url=http://www.nasa.gov/press-release/nasa-awards-launch-services-contract-for-roman-space-telescope |access-date=2022-07-21 |website=NASA |archive-date=20 July 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220720054133/https://www.nasa.gov/press-release/nasa-awards-launch-services-contract-for-roman-space-telescope/ |url-status=live }}

The nearest competing U.S. rocket was ULA's Delta IV Heavy with a LEO payload capacity of {{Cvt|28.4|t|lb}} costs US$12,340 per kg to LEO and US$24,630 per kg to GTO.{{cite web |title=Delta IV|url=https://www.ulalaunch.com/rockets/delta-iv|publisher=United Launch Alliance|access-date=2020-06-04|website=ulalaunch.com|archive-date=8 February 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180208023200/https://www.ulalaunch.com/rockets/delta-iv|url-status=live}} The Delta IV Heavy was retired in 2024.

Competitors from 2024 onwards may include SpaceX's Starship (100+ t to LEO), Blue Origin's New Glenn (45 t to LEO), Relativity Space's Terran R (34 t to LEO), and United Launch Alliance (ULA) Vulcan Centaur (27 t to LEO).

Due to improvements to the performance of Falcon 9, some of the heavier satellites flown to GTO, such as Intelsat 35e{{cite web|url=https://www.teslarati.com/spacex-intelsat-35e-launch-july-2/ |title=SpaceX set to launch massive satellite on July 2nd: 3 flights in 9 days|website=teslarati.com|date=June 27, 2017|access-date=May 16, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180517082315/https://www.teslarati.com/spacex-intelsat-35e-launch-july-2/|archive-date=May 17, 2018|url-status=live}} and Inmarsat-5 F4,{{cite web|url=http://spacenews.com/inmarsat-juggling-two-launches-says-spacex-to-return-to-flight-in-december/|title=Inmarsat, juggling two launches, says SpaceX to return to flight in December|publisher=SpaceNews|date=November 3, 2016|access-date=10 December 2016|archive-date=1 October 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211001053255/https://spacenews.com/inmarsat-juggling-two-launches-says-spacex-to-return-to-flight-in-december/|url-status=live}} were launched before the debut of Falcon Heavy. SpaceX anticipated the first commercial Falcon Heavy launch would be three to six months after a successful maiden flight,{{cite news|url=http://spacenews.com/spacex-set-for-falcon-heavy-debut/|title=SpaceX set for Falcon Heavy debut|first=Jeff|last=Foust|publisher=SpaceNews|date=February 5, 2018|access-date=6 February 2018|archive-date=1 October 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211001053336/https://spacenews.com/spacex-set-for-falcon-heavy-debut/|url-status=live}}{{cite web|url=https://arstechnica.com/science/2019/01/spacex-may-launch-the-next-falcon-heavy-rocket-in-less-than-two-months/ |title=After government re-opened, SpaceX sought two Falcon Heavy permits|first=Eric|last=Berger|date=January 29, 2019|publisher=Ars Technica|access-date=February 2, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190201224627/https://arstechnica.com/science/2019/01/spacex-may-launch-the-next-falcon-heavy-rocket-in-less-than-two-months/|archive-date=February 1, 2019|url-status=live}} but due to delays, the first commercial payload, Arabsat-6A was successfully launched on 11 April 2019, a year and two months after the first flight. SpaceX hoped to have 10 launches every year from 2021 on,{{Source-attribution|{{cite web|url=https://www.faa.gov/space/environmental/nepa_docs/media/SpaceX_Falcon_Program_Draft_EA_508.pdf |title=Draft Environmental Assessment for SpaceX Falcon Launches at Kennedy Space Center and Cape Canaveral Air Force Station|date=2020|publisher=Federal Aviation Administration|access-date=2020-10-24|archive-date=27 February 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200227193817/https://www.faa.gov/space/environmental/nepa_docs/media/SpaceX_Falcon_Program_Draft_EA_508.pdf|url-status=live}}|sentence=yes}} but there were no launches in 2020 or 2021.{{Sticky header}}

In May 2012, SpaceX announced that Intelsat had signed the first commercial contract for a Falcon Heavy flight. It was not confirmed at the time when the first Intelsat launch would occur, but the agreement had SpaceX delivering satellites to geosynchronous transfer orbit (GTO).{{cite web |title=SpaceX Announces First Commercial Contract For Launch In 2013 |url=http://www.redorbit.com/news/space/1112544685/spacex-announces-first-commercial-contract-for-launch-in-2013/|date=May 30, 2012|publisher=Red Orbit|access-date=December 15, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150924125006/http://www.redorbit.com/news/space/1112544685/spacex-announces-first-commercial-contract-for-launch-in-2013/|archive-date=September 24, 2015|url-status=live}}{{cite press release |title=Intelsat Signs First Commercial Falcon Heavy Launch Agreement With SpaceX|url=http://www.spacex.com/press/2012/12/19/intelsat-signs-first-commercial-falcon-heavy-launch-agreement-spacex|date=May 29, 2012|publisher=SpaceX|access-date=December 16, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130807100859/http://www.spacex.com/press/2012/12/19/intelsat-signs-first-commercial-falcon-heavy-launch-agreement-spacex|archive-date=August 7, 2013|url-status=live}} In August 2016, it emerged that this Intelsat contract had been reassigned to a Falcon 9 Full Thrust mission to deliver Intelsat 35e into orbit in the third quarter of 2017.{{cite web|url=http://spaceflightnow.com/2016/08/30/ses-agrees-to-launch-satellite-on-flight-proven-falcon-9-rocket/ |title=SES agrees to launch satellite on "flight-proven" Falcon 9 rocket|publisher=Spaceflight Now|first=Stephen|last=Clark|date=August 30, 2016|access-date=August 31, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160831163110/http://spaceflightnow.com/2016/08/30/ses-agrees-to-launch-satellite-on-flight-proven-falcon-9-rocket/|archive-date=August 31, 2016|url-status=live}} Performance improvements of the Falcon 9 vehicle family since the 2012 announcement, advertising {{cvt|8.3|t|lb}} to GTO for its expendable flight profile,{{cite web |title=Falcon 9|url=http://www.spacex.com/falcon9|publisher=SpaceX|access-date=August 30, 2016|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140805175724/http://www.spacex.com/falcon9|archive-date=August 5, 2014 |date=November 16, 2012}} enabled the launch of this 6 t satellite without upgrading to a Falcon Heavy variant.

In 2014, Inmarsat booked three launches with Falcon Heavy,{{cite web|last1=de Selding|first1=Peter B. |title=Inmarsat Books Falcon Heavy for up to Three Launches |url=http://www.spacenews.com/article/launch-report/41121inmarsat-books-falcon-heavy-for-up-to-three-launches|archive-url=https://archive.today/20140811203600/http://www.spacenews.com/article/launch-report/41121inmarsat-books-falcon-heavy-for-up-to-three-launches|url-status=dead|archive-date=11 August 2014|publisher=SpaceNews|date=July 2, 2014|access-date=August 6, 2014}} but due to delays, switched a payload to Ariane 5 for 2017.{{cite news|url=http://spacenews.com/inmarsat-shifts-satellite-from-spacex-to-arianespace/|title=Inmarsat shifts satellite from SpaceX to Arianespace|publisher=SpaceNews|first=Jeff|last=Foust|date=December 8, 2016|access-date=10 December 2016|archive-date=1 October 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211001053305/https://spacenews.com/inmarsat-shifts-satellite-from-spacex-to-arianespace/|url-status=live}} Similarly to the Intelsat 35e case, another satellite from this contract, Inmarsat 5-F4, was switched to a Falcon 9 Full Thrust due to the increased liftoff capacity.{{cite news|url=http://spacenews.com/inmarsat-juggling-two-launches-says-spacex-to-return-to-flight-in-december/|title=Inmarsat, juggling two launches, says SpaceX to return to flight in December|publisher=SpaceNews|first=Peter B.|last=de Selding|date=November 3, 2016|access-date=June 24, 2017|archive-date=1 October 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211001053255/https://spacenews.com/inmarsat-juggling-two-launches-says-spacex-to-return-to-flight-in-december/|url-status=live}} The remaining contract covered the launch of Inmarsat-6 F1 in 2020 on a Falcon 9.{{cite web|url=http://space.skyrocket.de/doc_sdat/inmarsat-6.htm |title=Inmarsat-6 F1, 2|publisher=Gunter's Space Page|first=Gunter|last=Krebs|access-date=June 24, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170609213617/http://space.skyrocket.de/doc_sdat/inmarsat-6.htm|archive-date=June 9, 2017|url-status=live}}

In December 2012, SpaceX announced its first Falcon Heavy launch contract with the United States Department of Defense (DoD). The United States Air Force Space and Missile Systems Center awarded SpaceX two Evolved Expendable Launch Vehicle (EELV)-class missions, including the Space Test Program 2 (STP-2) mission for Falcon Heavy, originally scheduled to be launched in March 2017,{{cite news|last=David|first=Leonard|url=http://www.space.com/32567-nasa-green-propellant-mission-gpim.html |title=Spacecraft Powered by 'Green' Propellant to Launch in 2017|publisher=Space.com|date=April 13, 2016|access-date=April 15, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160415195933/http://www.space.com/32567-nasa-green-propellant-mission-gpim.html |archive-date=April 15, 2016|url-status=live}}{{cite news|url=http://spacenews.com/spacex-offers-large-rockets-for-small-satellites/ |title=SpaceX offers large rockets for small satellites|publisher=SpaceNews|first=Jeff|last=Foust|date=August 9, 2016|access-date=August 10, 2016|archive-date=10 August 2016|archive-url=https://archive.today/20160810233348/http://spacenews.com/spacex-offers-large-rockets-for-small-satellites/|url-status=live}} to be placed at a near circular orbit at an altitude of {{cvt|700|km|mi}}, with an inclination of 70.0°.{{cite news|url=https://directory.eoportal.org/web/eoportal/satellite-missions/content/-/article/dsac-deep-space-atomic-clock- |title=DSAC (Deep Space Atomic Clock)|work=NASA |publisher=Earth Observation Resources|date=2014|access-date=October 28, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160306145518/https://directory.eoportal.org/web/eoportal/satellite-missions/content/-/article/dsac-deep-space-atomic-clock-|archive-date=March 6, 2016|url-status=live}}

In April 2015, SpaceX sent the U.S. Air Force an updated letter of intent outlining a certification process for its Falcon Heavy rocket to launch national security satellites. The process includes three successful flights of the Falcon Heavy including two consecutive successful flights, and the letter stated that Falcon Heavy can be ready to fly national security payloads by 2017.{{cite news|last1=Gruss|first1=Mike |title=SpaceX Sends Air Force an Outline for Falcon Heavy Certification|url=http://spacenews.com/spacex-sends-air-force-an-outline-for-falcon-heavy-certification/|access-date=April 21, 2015|publisher=SpaceNews|date=April 15, 2015|archive-date=16 April 2015|archive-url=https://archive.today/20150416033321/http://spacenews.com/spacex-sends-air-force-an-outline-for-falcon-heavy-certification/|url-status=live}} But in July 2017, SpaceX announced that the first test flight would take place in December 2017, pushing the second launch (Space Test Program 2) to June 2018. In May 2018, on the occasion of the first launch of the Falcon 9 Block 5 variant, a further delay to October 2018 was announced, and the launch was eventually pushed to 25 June 2019. The STP-2 mission used three Block 5 cores.{{cite news|last1=Davis|first1=Jason |title=LightSail 2 launch slips to Fall|url=http://www.planetary.org/blogs/jason-davis/2018/20180511-lightsail2-launch-slip.html|access-date=May 13, 2018|publisher=The Planetary Society|date=May 11, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180512044225/http://www.planetary.org/blogs/jason-davis/2018/20180511-lightsail2-launch-slip.html|archive-date=May 12, 2018|url-status=live}}

SpaceX was awarded 40% of the launches in Phase 2 of the National Security Space Launch (NSSL) contracts, which includes several launches, a vertical integration facility, and development of a larger fairing, from 2024 to 2027.{{cite news|title=Space Force awards National Security Space Launch Phase 2 launch service contracts to ULA, SpaceX|date=August 7, 2020|url=https://www.af.mil/News/Article-Display/Article/2305576/space-force-awards-national-security-space-launch-phase-2-launch-service-contra/|publisher=United States Air Force|access-date=December 5, 2022|archive-date=5 December 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221205172406/https://www.af.mil/News/Article-Display/Article/2305576/space-force-awards-national-security-space-launch-phase-2-launch-service-contra/|url-status=live}}

The payload for the STP-2 mission of the Department of Defense included 25 small spacecraft from the U.S. military, NASA, and research institutions:{{Cite web |last=Clark |first=Stephen |date=March 3, 2018 |title=Rideshare mission for U.S. military confirmed as second Falcon Heavy launch – Spaceflight Now |url=https://spaceflightnow.com/2018/03/01/rideshare-mission-for-u-s-military-confirmed-as-second-falcon-heavy-launch/ |access-date=2023-10-22 |publisher=Spaceflight Now |language=en-US |archive-date=3 March 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180303180516/https://spaceflightnow.com/2018/03/01/rideshare-mission-for-u-s-military-confirmed-as-second-falcon-heavy-launch/ |url-status=live }}

The Green Propellant Infusion Mission (GPIM) was a payload; it is a project partly developed by the U.S. Air Force to demonstrate a less-toxic propellant.{{Source-attribution|sentence=yes|{{cite web|url=http://www.nasa.gov/sites/default/files/files/GreenPropellantInfusionMissionProject_v2.pdf |title=Green Propellant Infusion Mission Project|access-date=February 26, 2014|date=July 2013|publisher=NASA |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20140303013030/http://www.nasa.gov/sites/default/files/files/GreenPropellantInfusionMissionProject_v2.pdf|archive-date=March 3, 2014|url-status= live}} }}

Another secondary payload is the miniaturized Deep Space Atomic Clock that is expected to facilitate autonomous navigation.{{Source-attribution|sentence=yes|{{cite news|url=http://www.jpl.nasa.gov/news/news.php?feature=4567 |title=Deep Space Atomic Clock|work=Jet Propulsion Laboratory|publisher=NASA|date=April 27, 2015|access-date=October 28, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151210213448/http://www.jpl.nasa.gov/news/news.php?feature=4567|archive-date=December 10, 2015|url-status=live}} }} The Air Force Research Laboratory's Demonstration and Science Experiments (DSX) has a mass of {{cvt|500|kg|lb}} and will measure the effects of very low frequency radio waves on space radiation. The British 'Orbital Test Bed' payload is hosting several commercial and military experiments.

Other small satellites included Prox 1, built by Georgia Tech students to test a 3D-printed thruster and a miniaturized gyroscope, LightSail by The Planetary Society, Oculus-ASR nanosatellite from Michigan Tech, and CubeSats from the U.S. Air Force Academy, the Naval Postgraduate School, the United States Naval Research Laboratory, the University of Texas at Austin, California Polytechnic State University, and a CubeSat assembled by students at Merritt Island High School in Florida.

The Block 5-second stage allowed multiple reignitions to place its many payloads in multiple orbits. The launch was planned to include a {{cvt|5|t|lb}} ballast mass,{{Cite web |last=Ralph |first=Eric |date=2018-06-10 |title=SpaceX Falcon Heavy with Block 5 rockets targets November launch debut |url=https://www.teslarati.com/spacex-falcon-heavy-block-5-november-launch/ |access-date=2023-10-22 |website=TESLARATI |language=en-US |archive-date=22 December 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181222033200/https://www.teslarati.com/spacex-falcon-heavy-block-5-november-launch/ |url-status=live }} but the ballast mass was later omitted from the {{cvt|3.7|t|lb}} total mass for the payload stack.{{cite web |url=https://www.teslarati.com/spacex-surprise-falcon-heavy-booster-landing-distance-record/ |title=A SpaceX surprise: Falcon Heavy booster landing to smash distance record|date=19 June 2019 |access-date=June 20, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190620113338/https://www.teslarati.com/spacex-surprise-falcon-heavy-booster-landing-distance-record/|archive-date=June 20, 2019|url-status=live}}

In 2011, NASA Ames Research Center proposed a Mars mission called Red Dragon that would use a Falcon Heavy as the launch vehicle and trans-Martian injection vehicle, and a variant of the Dragon capsule to enter the Martian atmosphere. The proposed science objectives were to detect biosignatures and to drill {{cvt|1|m|ft}} or so underground, in an effort to sample reservoirs of water ice known to exist under the surface. The mission cost {{as of|2011|lc=on}} was projected to be less than US$425 million, not including the launch cost.{{cite news|last=Wall|first=Mike |title="Red Dragon" Mission Mulled as Cheap Search for Mars Life|url=http://www.space.com/12489-nasa-mars-life-private-spaceship-red-dragon.html|access-date=July 31, 2011|publisher=Space.com|date=July 31, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111201051520/http://www.space.com/12489-nasa-mars-life-private-spaceship-red-dragon.html|archive-date=December 1, 2011|url-status=live}} SpaceX 2015 estimation was {{cvt|2000–4000|kg}} to the surface of Mars, with a soft retropropulsive landing following a limited atmospheric deceleration using a parachute and heat shield.{{cite news|last1=Bergin|first1=Chris |title=Falcon Heavy enabler for Dragon solar system explorer |url=http://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2015/05/falcon-heavy-dragon-solar-system-explorer/|access-date=May 12, 2015|publisher=NASASpaceFlight.com|date=May 11, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150513211939/http://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2015/05/falcon-heavy-dragon-solar-system-explorer/|archive-date=May 13, 2015|url-status=live}} Beyond the Red Dragon concept, SpaceX was seeing potential for Falcon Heavy and Dragon 2 to carry science payloads across much of the Solar System, particularly to Jupiter's moon Europa. SpaceX announced in 2017 that propulsive landing for Dragon 2 would not be developed further, and that the capsule would not receive landing legs. Consequently, the Red Dragon missions to Mars were canceled in favor of Starship, a larger vehicle using a different landing technology.{{cite news|url=https://www.theverge.com/2017/7/19/15999384/elon-musk-spacex-dragon-capsule-mars-mission |title=Elon Musk suggests SpaceX is scrapping its plans to land Dragon capsules on Mars|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170731225406/https://www.theverge.com/2017/7/19/15999384/elon-musk-spacex-dragon-capsule-mars-mission|archive-date=July 31, 2017|publisher=The Verge|date=July 19, 2017}}

Falcon Heavy is the launch vehicle for the initial modules of the Lunar Gateway: Power and Propulsion Element (PPE) and Habitation and Logistics Outpost (HALO).{{cite web|url=https://spaceflightnow.com/2019/05/24/nasa-chooses-maxar-to-build-keystone-module-for-lunar-gateway-station/ |title=NASA chooses Maxar to build keystone module for lunar Gateway station|first=Stephen|last=Clark|publisher=Spaceflight Now|access-date=31 January 2020|archive-date=5 June 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190605140715/https://spaceflightnow.com/2019/05/24/nasa-chooses-maxar-to-build-keystone-module-for-lunar-gateway-station/|url-status=live}} To decrease complexity,{{cite web|url=https://spaceflightnow.com/2020/05/06/nasa-plans-to-launch-first-two-gateway-elements-on-same-rocket/ |title=NASA plans to launch first two Gateway elements on same rocket|date=May 6, 2020|access-date=8 May 2020|archive-date=6 May 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200506203725/https://spaceflightnow.com/2020/05/06/nasa-plans-to-launch-first-two-gateway-elements-on-same-rocket/|url-status=live}} NASA announced in February 2021 that it is launching the first two elements on a single Falcon Heavy launch vehicle, targeting a launch date no earlier than 2025. Before switching to a merged launch, NASA listed in April 2020 Falcon Heavy as the launch vehicle for PPE lone launch.{{Source-attribution|sentence=yes|{{cite web|url=https://www.gao.gov/assets/710/706505.pdf |title=Assessments of Major Projects|date=2020|website=gao.gov|publisher=GAO|access-date=2020-10-24|archive-date=1 May 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200501192353/https://www.gao.gov//assets/710/706505.pdf|url-status=live}} }}

In March 2020, Falcon Heavy won the first award to a resupply mission to the Lunar Gateway, placing a new Dragon XL spacecraft on a translunar injection orbit.{{cite news|url=https://spacenews.com/spacex-wins-nasa-commercial-cargo-contract-for-lunar-gateway/ |title=SpaceX wins NASA commercial cargo contract for lunar Gateway|publisher=SpaceNews|date=March 27, 2020|access-date=March 27, 2020|archive-date=29 March 2020|archive-url=https://archive.today/20200329123606/https://spacenews.com/spacex-wins-nasa-commercial-cargo-contract-for-lunar-gateway/|url-status=live}}

NASA chose Falcon Heavy as the launch vehicle for its Psyche mission to a metallic asteroid; it launched on 13 October 2023.{{cite web|url=https://blogs.nasa.gov/psyche/2023/10/13/psyche-spacecraft-separates-from-falcon-heavy-second-stage/|title=Psyche Spacecraft Separates From Falcon Heavy Second Stage|date=13 October 2023|access-date=13 October 2023|archive-date=14 October 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231014201652/https://blogs.nasa.gov/psyche/2023/10/13/psyche-spacecraft-separates-from-falcon-heavy-second-stage/|url-status=live}} The contract was worth US$117 million.{{cite web|url=https://spacenews.com/falcon-heavy-to-launch-nasa-psyche-asteroid-mission/ |title=Falcon Heavy to launch NASA Psyche asteroid mission|first=Jeff|last=Foust|date=February 28, 2020|access-date=February 29, 2020|website=spacenews.com|archive-date=1 March 2020|archive-url=https://archive.today/20200301115859/https://spacenews.com/falcon-heavy-to-launch-nasa-psyche-asteroid-mission/|url-status=live}}{{cite web|url=https://techcrunch.com/2020/02/28/spacex-wins-the-117-million-launch-contract-to-explore-psyches-heavy-metal-asteroid/ |title=SpaceX wins the $117 million launch contract to explore Psyche's heavy metal asteroid|first=Jonathan|last=Shieber|date=February 29, 2020|access-date=February 29, 2020|publisher=TechCrunch|archive-date=29 February 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200229140138/https://techcrunch.com/2020/02/28/spacex-wins-the-117-million-launch-contract-to-explore-psyches-heavy-metal-asteroid/|url-status=live}}{{cite web|url=https://www.engadget.com/2020/02/28/nasa-psyche-asteroid-mission-spacex/ |title=NASA's Psyche asteroid mission will use a SpaceX Falcon Heavy rocket|first=Mariella|last=Moon|date=February 29, 2020|access-date=February 29, 2020|publisher=Engadget|archive-date=29 February 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200229072945/https://www.engadget.com/2020/02/28/nasa-psyche-asteroid-mission-spacex/|url-status=live}}

Europa Clipper was initially targeted to be launched on an SLS rocket. However, due to extensive delays, in 2021 NASA awarded the launch contract to SpaceX for a fully expendable Falcon Heavy.{{Cite web |last=Potter |first=Sean |date=2021-07-23 |title=NASA Awards Launch Services Contract for Europa Clipper Mission |url=http://www.nasa.gov/press-release/nasa-awards-launch-services-contract-for-europa-clipper-mission |access-date=2022-10-16 |website=NASA |archive-date=8 November 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221108221111/http://www.nasa.gov/press-release/nasa-awards-launch-services-contract-for-europa-clipper-mission/ |url-status=live }} It launched on 14 October 2024.{{cite web |last1=Warren |first1=Haygen |title=NASA, SpaceX launch historic Europa Clipper mission to Jupiter |url=https://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2024/10/europa-clipper-launch/ |website=NASA Spaceflight |access-date=20 December 2024 |date=14 October 2024}}

Dragonfly, a rotorcraft mission to Saturn's moon Titan, is scheduled to launch on a Falcon Heavy in July 2028. {{Cite web |title= NASA Awards Launch Services Contract for Dragonfly Mission |url=https://www.nasa.gov/news-release/nasa-awards-launch-services-contract-for-dragonfly-mission |access-date=2024-11-26}}

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• Comparison of orbital launch systems
• Comparison of orbital launchers families
• SpaceX Mars transportation infrastructure
• Saturn C-3
• Delta IV Heavy

{{Reflist}}

• [https://www.spacex.com/vehicles/falcon-heavy/ Falcon Heavy official page]
• [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tk338VXcb24 Falcon Heavy flight animation], February 2018
• [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I7LJIuB2CHE Elon Musk on how Falcon Heavy will change space travel, The Verge] YouTube

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