SpaceX Falcon Heavy Discussion (Thread 6)

[sdsds]

AIUI, NASA LSP certifies particular launch vehicle configurations in three risk categories. The requirements for category 1 look pretty easy to meet. Has FH been certified as category 2? Category 3?

[whitelancer64]

AIUI, NASA LSP certifies particular launch vehicle configurations in three risk categories. The requirements for category 1 look pretty easy to meet. Has FH been certified as category 2? Category 3?

Falcon Heavy has been certified for the National Security Space Launch (NSSL) program. Falcon Heavy has not yet been certified to NASA Category 3.

[su27k]

AIUI, NASA LSP certifies particular launch vehicle configurations in three risk categories. The requirements for category 1 look pretty easy to meet. Has FH been certified as category 2? Category 3?

Psyche is Class B payload, which requires Category 2 or 3. Given originally they planned to launch Psyche on FH in July 2022, one can assume FH is certified as Category 2 or 3 already.

[su27k]

SpaceX Cleared to Loft US Spy Satellites Using Reusable Boosters

Elon Musk’s SpaceX has won certification from the Pentagon’s Space Force to use recyclable boosters on its Falcon Heavy rocket to launch top-secret spy satellites, according to the service.

<snip>

The certification for SpaceX -- which was issued in June but not previously disclosed -- allows the recyclable first-stage side boosters to be used in sensitive national security launches requiring power performance beyond that of the company’s original Falcon 9. The Space Force found that the “recovery, refurbishment, and launch of SpaceX boosters utilizes well-established processes,” the service said in a statement.

[Hog]

Are NASA Category 3 vehicles used for nuke payloads?

[su27k]

Are NASA Category 3 vehicles used for nuke payloads?

I believe nuclear certification is a separate process (and that process was streamlined under the previous administration), I guess it probably helps if you're already Category 3.

[ZachS09]

What would be the most logical reason as to why there were Falcon Heavy payload readiness delays?

Is it that the Space Force (i.e. USSF-44 and USSF-52) doesn't feel confident about going on Falcon Heavy, or could it be some sort of undisclosed manufacturing defect?

[Jim]

What would be the most logical reason as to why there were Falcon Heavy payload readiness delays?

Is it that the Space Force (i.e. USSF-44 and USSF-52) doesn't feel confident about going on Falcon Heavy, or could it be some sort of undisclosed manufacturing defect?

Just not ready

[cpushack]

https://twitter.com/elonmusk/status/1563760585363185664

Squeezing extra performance out of Falcon 9 – almost at 17 metric tons to an actual useful orbit with booster & fairing reusable!

Makes me wonder if they aren't experimenting with ways that they can apply to Falcon Heavy too, as the Lunar Gateway elements they need to launch are apparently a bit overweight for a nominal FH payload.