Falcon Heavy launch blog

Elon Musk confirmed Falcon Heavy Launch for 6th Feb 2018 in one weeks time, Action plan put into full motion, get airline tickets from UK to Orlando, book accommodation, get US visa waver.

My eldest son and I arrive at Orlando the evening the day before the GovSat1 F9 launch. Tuesday; we go to NASA Kennedy Space center (great view passing Blue Origin's new factory) and make our way to the Saturn V Launch viewing area, we're concerned about the wind and sure enough it was high enough for a Scrub for the day. A big thank you to Kennedy Space Center for upgrading us to a great photo ID lanyard annual pass (great memento). Wednesday was perfect blue sky's and an amazing launch for the Falcon 9 GovSat1. Even the Belgium royal family were there to watch the launch. We're so pleased to hear amazingly the 1st stage had Safely landed in the Ocean (Sorry to hear that it had broken up before it could be rescued).

Now the task at hand to confirm where to watch the Launch of the Falcon Heavy and the tough decision whether to go for the best view of the Launch at Playalinda Beach or the landing of the two side boosters to Landing Zone 1 (LZ1) and LZ2. We recce out the different locations, firstly walking up the beach to Jetty Park; met some lovely people with an amazing campervan with a view of SpaceX mooring at Port Canaveral.

But the highlight was when we went to the SpaceX Launch Control just inside the 45th Space Wing grounds, we got to speak to some of the SpaceX staff that confirmed that everything was go for the FH but explained that there where watching the high level winds, was so interesting talking to someone that really knew a lot about rocket fueling and all sorts of SpaceX things about the 'Range' and the future missions, and was also able to confirm that the viewing stands just inside the Military gates would be available on the day.

The day of the Launch had arrived we made our way to the 45th Space Wing viewing area, where sure enough the earlier issues of high level winds postponed the launch to very near to the end of the launch window, but the weather was perfect sunshine with beautiful pale blue sky. Then the amazing spectacle of the Launch of FH as the 27 engines gave out a beautiful golden exhaust glow as they pushed the rocket high above us; was met by raptures shouting and clapping from the others all around us, especially as the sound of all those engines reached us. Yet our highlight was still to come as we awaited the return of the two side cores.

Two amazingly loud triple sonic bangs as each stage landed; unbeknown to us if we had turned around Elon Musk was watching just a few meters behind us.

The big unexpected bonus of being so near to the SpaceX launch control was all the SpaceX engineers that had come from all over the USA to watch many from Hawthorn in California, Texas, Seattle as well as those already based at KSC, the excitement of all these young engineers as far removed for the suited NASA engineers you can imagine, all passionate on their part of the great plan of going to Mars.

After talking to them I came away very optimistic not just for the Falcon Heavy but the whole BFR(Starship) program. Elon Musk was whisked away in a military helicopter from SpaceX Launch control to get to the NASA space conference after the launch where he confirmed all that I had learnt yet in less detail. The optimistic timeline for BFR(Starship) was exactly the sense of confidence from all the SpaceX engineers I had spoken with. The design of the rocket itself is hard yet solved. The issues for long duration manned missions to Mars are proving somewhat tougher, so many life support items need to be resolved, currently SpaceX have a relatively small team working these issues. Some issues that had not even fully occurred to me; the everyday things we just take for granted: many have subtle difference in the lack of Earth gravity, the engineers were less concerned about living on Mars and radiation, Mars' gravity makes life support easier than on the journey to get to Mars, even with the BFS(Starship) massive payload concerns for life support, fully closing the recycling loop is complex but doable, yet everyday living is more complex. I had a very insightful discussion on some of the differences between use of centrifuges or artificial gravity; having subtle important differences with gravity we have on a planet, even NASA with all of the many years of the ISS have yet to resolve, for instance just cleaning clothes in the absence of gravity is hard to resolve.

All in all an amazing time for my son and I. We had allowed just over 2 weeks of FH scrubs, we moved West by car towards Texas vis Stennis Space Center.

NEWS: So glad to learn Elon said the center core fix is "pretty obvious." as there wasn't enough ignition fluid to light the outer two engines of the booster "after several three engine relights."

Photos and videos

My son and I with FH booster at KSC

Grid Fin of the FH booter on display at KSC

Falcon Heavy Maiden Launch as viewed from 45th Space Wing viewing stand next to SpaceX Launch control 6th Feb 2018

SpaceX Falcon Heavy Maiden flight booster landings to Lz1 and LZ2

Unfortunately the amazing loud triple sonic booms cannot be heard also a guy swearing (Not me).

SpaceX Falcon Heavy Maiden flight 1st stage side booster walk around at KSC after successful landing.

I had a very long and interesting chat with a man from SpaceX security while at KSC he knew a lot, was also interesting to hear his personal times with Elon Musk and his children.

Another great bonus we both got was a Falcon Heavy I WAS THERE certificate.