SpaceX launches first Falcon Heavy rocket in 3 years


SpaceX's Falcon Heavy, the world's most powerful rocket, blasted toward the stars for the first time in three years on Tuesday.
The behemoth rocket launched at 9:41 a.m. ET from Kennedy Space Center in Florida. The Falcon Heavy took to the skies for mission USSF-44, a classified operation aimed at carrying additional satellites into orbit for military use. CNBC reported that USSF-44 is Falcon Heavy's first national security-level mission.
Following the successful launch, SpaceX — helmed by controversial tech mogul Elon Musk — landed only the Falcon Heavy's side booster rockets. The spacecraft's central booster was left to plunge into the ocean, as U.S. Space Systems Command said it would not have enough fuel left to guide it home.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
Tuesday's launch is one of very few trips that Falcon Heavy has taken since its debut in 2018. Since then, SpaceX has launched just two other Falcon Heavy missions, and the rocket's last flight occurred in June 2019. The majority of SpaceX missions are undertaken by the company's Falcon 9 rocket, a smaller vessel that has gone on nearly 50 missions just this year.
The small number of Falcon Heavy launches is in part due to a backlog of customer payloads that are not ready to fly, and CNBC noted there are still around 12 missions still planned.
Both Falcon Heavy and Falcon 9 are likely to be replaced by SpaceX's deep-space launch vehicle, Starship, which is scheduled to have its first orbital test flight later this year.
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Justin Klawans has worked as a staff writer at The Week since 2022. He began his career covering local news before joining Newsweek as a breaking news reporter, where he wrote about politics, national and global affairs, business, crime, sports, film, television and other news. Justin has also freelanced for outlets including Collider and United Press International.
-
Nashville dining: Far more than barbecue and hot chicken
Feature A modern approach to fine-dining, a daily-changing menu, and more
-
Music Reviews: Coco Jones and Viagra Boys
Feature "Why Not More?" and "Viagr Aboys"
-
Visa wants to let AI make credit card purchases for you
The Explainer The program will allow you to set a budget and let AI learn from your shopping preferences
-
Sea lion proves animals can keep a beat
speed read A sea lion named Ronan beat a group of college students in a rhythmic dance-off, says new study
-
Humans heal much slower than other mammals
Speed Read Slower healing may have been an evolutionary trade-off when we shed fur for sweat glands
-
Novel 'bone collector' caterpillar wears its prey
Speed Read Hawaiian scientists discover a carnivorous caterpillar that decorates its shell with the body parts of dead insects
-
Scientists find hint of alien life on distant world
Speed Read NASA's James Webb Space Telescope has detected a possible signature of life on planet K2-18b
-
Katy Perry, Gayle King visit space on Bezos rocket
Speed Read Six well-known women went into lower orbit for 11 minutes
-
Scientists map miles of wiring in mouse brain
Speed Read Researchers have created the 'largest and most detailed wiring diagram of a mammalian brain to date,' said Nature
-
Scientists genetically revive extinct 'dire wolves'
Speed Read A 'de-extinction' company has revived the species made popular by HBO's 'Game of Thrones'
-
We could be living in a black hole
Under the radar And our universe may not be the only one