Elon Musk-led SpaceX just shared the payload capabilities of Falcon 9 and to be launched Falcon Heavy rockets. The Falcon family, operated by Space Exploration Technologies (SpaceX), is known for its multi-use rocket launch vehicles. From its launch of the first space vehicle, Falcon 1, on 28 September 2008, SpaceX has emerged as the commercial aerospace manufacturer, and Falcon 9 flew first on 4 June 2010.
Last week the company announced it would be sending Dragon spacecraft early in 2018 to understand the overall architecture of Mars. The spacecraft will be carried away by Falcon Heavy rockets, which the company is currently working on. These are the first orbital launch vehicles capable of lifting large payloads to be entirely designed in the 21st century.
Elon Musk, on his Twitter, posts the payload capabilities of Falcon 9 and Falcon Heavy and details on its official website.
“SpaceX offers open and fixed pricing for its Falcon 9 and Falcon Heavy launch services. Modest discounts are available, for contractually committed, multi-launch purchases. SpaceX can also offer crew transportation services to commercial customers seeking to transport astronauts to alternate LEO destinations.”
As the company claims Falcon 9 rocket has the ability to transport twice as much weight into lower earth orbit as was originally listed. Also, Falcon Heavy will be able to carry the payload even larger than it said before. Falcon 9 can launch more than 50,000 pounds to Lower Earth orbit instead of 29,000 pounds. It can also carry a payload weighing up to 8,860 pounds to Mars.
SpaceX also detailed the pricing of Falcon rockets for carrying a single payload to be placed in the earth’s orbit or even on Mars.
As per SpaceX, Falcon Heavy’s performance capabilities will be crucial for the company and plans to send the spacecraft to Mars in 2018 after its first flight in November 2016.
