Successful tests of the first stages of the SpaceX heavy Falcon Heavy launch vehicle

Elon Musk and the rest of the SpaceX management plan to make the first launch of the Falcon Heavy heavy-duty carrier rocket this November. In preparation for this launch, the company is conducting a program of testing key components and components of a future rocket, the first of which were launched in May of this year. And just the other day, the company's specialists successfully completed tests of all three first stages of a future rocket.

Tests of the first stages were carried out on a special test bench of the production department of the company SpaceX in MacGregor, Texas. Each of the stages, which is a slightly modified first stage of the Falcon 9 rocket, worked with the engines turned on for one minute, until the rocket’s tanks had run out of fuel.

The Falcon Heavy rocket will soon become the most powerful rocket available to SpaceX. Using the total thrust of three Falcon 9 rockets, this rocket will be able to lift cargo weighing up to 63,500 kilograms (140,000 pounds) to near-earth orbit. At the same time, each of the first three steps will return to Earth and make a soft landing, providing the possibility of its reuse.

I remind you that the date of the first launch of the Falcon Heavy rocket has already been transferred several times . First, in 2011, Elon Musk promised that the launch will take place in 2013. However, difficulties with the implementation of technologies for the automatic landing of the spent first stages and some other troubles forced the company to postpone the launch of a heavy rocket. I would like to hope that until November of this year there will not be any unforeseen situations and SpaceX will still manage to realize all its plans.