Key facts
By the
numbers.
| Operator | SpaceX |
|---|---|
| Height | 70 m |
| Core diameter | 3.7 m, three cores |
| Mass | 1,420 t |
| Engines at liftoff | 27 Merlin 1D |
| Payload to LEO | 63.8 t (expended) |
| Payload to Mars | 16.8 t |
| First flight | 6 February 2018 |
The Real Rocket
Falcon Heavy: history, specs and famous launches
Falcon Heavy is SpaceX’s heavy-lift rocket: three Falcon 9 first-stage cores side by side with 27 Merlin engines at liftoff. It first flew on 6 February 2018, sending a Tesla Roadster with the mannequin “Starman” into space, and has since launched NASA’s Psyche and Europa Clipper missions. As of October 2026 every Falcon Heavy launch has been successful.
Facts checked October 2026 · sources below
By the
Famous launches
Moments that
made history.
- Demo flight
Maiden flight. A Tesla Roadster with “Starman” heads into space; both side boosters land side by side at Cape Canaveral.
- Arabsat-6A
First commercial Falcon Heavy flight.
- STP-2
US Department of Defense mission with two dozen satellites.
- Psyche
NASA’s probe to the metal-rich asteroid 16 Psyche.
- X-37B OTV-7
Launch of the US Space Force’s reusable spaceplane.
- Europa Clipper
NASA’s largest planetary spacecraft, on its way to Jupiter’s moon Europa.
Records & firsts
Worth
knowing.
- One of the most powerful rockets in operation, with 27 engines at liftoff.
- First synchronised landing of two side boosters (February 2018).
FAQ
Quick
answers.
How tall is Falcon Heavy?
70 metres, the same height as Falcon 9, but three cores wide.
What did the first Falcon Heavy carry?
Elon Musk’s Tesla Roadster, with a mannequin called Starman in the driver’s seat.
How many engines does Falcon Heavy have?
27 Merlin 1D engines at liftoff, nine per core, plus one Merlin Vacuum on the upper stage.
Which NASA missions has Falcon Heavy launched?
Among others Psyche (2023) and Europa Clipper (2024).
Sources
Checked
against.
The past
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