World’s most powerful rocket to make debut

SpaceX is to attempt the first launch of its Falcon Heavy rocket. With 27 engines generating five million pounds of thrust at liftoff, the triple-core booster will be the world’s most powerful launch vehicle

First payload will be SpaceX founder Elon Musk’s Tesla Roadster, bound for Mars orbit


Falcon Heavy 70 metres
Payload fairing
Second stage
Inter-stage adapter
Grid fins control flight when boosters returnto Earth
First stage
Landing legs

Total of 27 Merlin 1D engines, fuelled by liquid oxygen and kerosene, able to produce
thrust equal to around 18 Boeing 747 aircraft
Only Saturn V moon rocket, last flown in 1973, delivered more payload to orbit

Payload
Rocket designed to launch payloads up to 57 tonnes, allowing SpaceX to move into new satellite launch markets and eventually loft astronauts beyond Earth orbit

Second stage
Powered by single Merlin engine, modified to operate in vacuum of space

First stage
Consists of two existing Falcon 9 boosters strapped to central core stage

Land
1. Lift-off
2. Side boosters separate from central core
3. Boosters flip over before descent
Launch
4. Boosters touch down simultaneously
5. Payload fairing separates from central core 
6. Central core flips over
7. Central core lands on offshore recovery  platform
8. Tesla sent on trajectory aimed for Mars orbit
Ocean

Landing
Rocket designed to be reusable, with all three boosters built to fly back to Earth 

Falcon Heavy launches start  at $90 million

Side boosters: Land on two concrete pads at Cape Canaveral

Landing legs fold down to stabilise rocket

Central core: Lands on barge

Source and picture: SpaceX