Launch Date: December 28
Launch Window: 7PM EST (4PM PST, 00:00 UTC on the 29th)
Launch site: LC-39A, Cape Canaveral, Florida
Side Booster Recovery: RTLS - LZ-1 and LZ-2
Core Booster Recovery: Expended
Boosters: Side Boosters: B1064.4 and B1065.4 Center Core: B1084.1
Mass: 6350 kg ?
Orbit: GTO highly elliptical
Yearly Launch Number: 95 orbital + 2 suborbital losses
A SpaceX Falcon Heavy rocket will launch a classified payload from a contract awarded in June 2018 for US$130 million, increased to $149.2 million in August 2021, due to "a change in the contract requirements" and expected to be completed by 14 April 2022. Draft solicitation said the launch was 6,350 kg (14,000 lb) to GTO. The Air Force recently announced that the mission will fly an X-37B spaceplane. This mission will send the OTV into a highly elliptical orbit that is speculated to reach beyond GEO. An X-37B was once launched on a Block 4 Falcon 9 for USAF 277 (OTV-5) on September 7, 2017. The Falcon Heavy’s two side boosters will return to Landing Zones 1 and 2 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station for recovery. The center core will be expended.
This is the 9th Falcon Heavy launch.
Launch Window: 7PM EST (4PM PST, 00:00 UTC on the 29th)
Launch site: LC-39A, Cape Canaveral, Florida
Side Booster Recovery: RTLS - LZ-1 and LZ-2
Core Booster Recovery: Expended
Boosters: Side Boosters: B1064.4 and B1065.4 Center Core: B1084.1
Mass: 6350 kg ?
Orbit: GTO highly elliptical
Yearly Launch Number: 95 orbital + 2 suborbital losses
A SpaceX Falcon Heavy rocket will launch a classified payload from a contract awarded in June 2018 for US$130 million, increased to $149.2 million in August 2021, due to "a change in the contract requirements" and expected to be completed by 14 April 2022. Draft solicitation said the launch was 6,350 kg (14,000 lb) to GTO. The Air Force recently announced that the mission will fly an X-37B spaceplane. This mission will send the OTV into a highly elliptical orbit that is speculated to reach beyond GEO. An X-37B was once launched on a Block 4 Falcon 9 for USAF 277 (OTV-5) on September 7, 2017. The Falcon Heavy’s two side boosters will return to Landing Zones 1 and 2 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station for recovery. The center core will be expended.
This is the 9th Falcon Heavy launch.
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