SpaceX launches a Falcon Heavy rocket on October 13, 2023. On board, a probe which will cross space to reach the asteroid Psyche, which has a metallic composition.
In October, SpaceX is hosting a new Falcon Heavy rocket launch. This is a mission on behalf of NASA, to enable it to send a space exploration probe near the asteroid Psyche. This has a strongly metallic surface composition, which is not usual for asteroids. The probe is due to arrive in the area in 2029.
The flight of the Falcon Heavy in summary
- What ? A scientific mission for NASA;
- When ? October 13, 2023, at 4:24 p.m. (Paris time);
- Or ? At the Kennedy Space Center, Florida;
- What will we see? Takeoff of the Falcon Heavy rocket.
Where to see the launch of Psyché live?
A live broadcast is offered by the American space agency on YouTube. You can follow the shot with videoalso embedded below:
What is SpaceX’s mission?
In 2020, NASA entrusted SpaceX with the mission of sending a probe that will “explore a world of metal”. Behind this formula is actually the asteroid Psyche, which captivates the American space agency. Indeed, its surface is likely to contain substantial quantities of metal rather than rock or ice. This is the first exploration mission of its kind.
For this flight, the Falcon Heavy will be used. It is today SpaceX’s most powerful rocket among those that are operational – the Starship is still being built and made reliable. This is a Falcon 9 rocket to which the base of two other Falcon 9 rockets has been added. These two segments have the role of additional propellant, to deliver more thrust.
2023 has been an exceptional year for the Falcon Heavy. Since its very first flight, in 2018, this launcher had very little planned. But this year, SpaceX is carrying out missions. Three shootings have already taken place. Psyche is the fourth. There will be another one in November. This is more than all the cumulative missions of the previous five years.
A long space journey awaits Psyche to reach the asteroid of the same name. During this crossing, the machine will be helped in particular by Mars, which will serve as a “slingshot” – this is gravitational assistance. Orbit insertion is expected to occur in mid-2029, almost six years from now. The scientific mission itself should last a little less than two years
When does the Falcon Heavy rocket take off?
The flight of the American launcher is scheduled for Thursday October 13, 2023, at 4:24 p.m. (Paris time). Locally, it will be 10:24 a.m. on the east coast of the United States.
Initially, the flight took place on October 12, but the weather forecast was 80 percent unfavorable, according to weather officials at the Space Force’s 45th Weather Squadron at Cape Canaveral. SpaceX and NASA have other firing options for the coming days. The launch window does not close until October 25.
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