Falcon Heavy’s Maiden Flight: Launch and Booster Separation
The short version
SpaceX's Falcon Heavy Demonstration Mission launched from Launch Complex 39A at Kennedy Space Center, Florida, on 6 February 2018 at 20:45 UTC. The video shows launch coverage including supersonic flight, max-q, side booster throttle-down and separation. The description says the second stage was to place Elon Musk's Tesla Roadster into an Earth-Mars elliptical orbit around the Sun, and that the side cores were to land at LZ-1 and LZ-2 while the center core attempted a droneship landing.
Full written account
SpaceX's Falcon Heavy Demonstration Mission lifted off from Launch Complex 39A (LC-39A) at Kennedy Space Center, Florida, on 6 February 2018 at 20:45 UTC (15:45 ET). It was the maiden flight of Falcon Heavy, and its payload was Elon Musk's Tesla Roadster.
The plan for the flight
Falcon Heavy's second stage was to attempt to place the Roadster into a precessing Earth-Mars elliptical orbit around the Sun. The two side cores were not new: they had previously launched the Thaicom 8 satellite in May 2016 and the CRS-9 mission in July 2016.
After booster separation, the two side cores were to land at SpaceX's Landing Zones 1 and 2 (LZ-1 and LZ-2) at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Florida. The center core was to attempt to land on the "Of Course I Still Love You" droneship, stationed in the Atlantic Ocean.
The ascent
The launch call came at the start of the broadcast, followed by a terminal count. After liftoff, a controller is heard asking whether the call-out was heard over the cheering. The vehicle then went supersonic.
The side boosters passed max-q, the period of maximum loads on the vehicle. The commentary then described waiting for the side boosters to begin throttling down ahead of booster engine cutoff at separation, two and a half minutes into flight. Trajectory was called as looking good, and M1D engine performance was reported as nominal.
The side boosters began to throttle down in preparation for shutdown ten seconds later. A major event, separation, followed, and a successful separation was called out.
Questions this video answers
When and where did Falcon Heavy first launch?
On 6 February 2018 at 20:45 UTC (15:45 ET) from Launch Complex 39A, Kennedy Space Center, Florida.
What was the payload?
Elon Musk's Tesla Roadster, which the second stage was to place into a precessing Earth-Mars elliptical orbit around the Sun.
Where were the boosters meant to land?
The two side cores were to land at Landing Zones 1 and 2 at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, and the center core was to attempt a landing on the Of Course I Still Love You droneship in the Atlantic Ocean.
Which earlier missions had the side cores flown?
Thaicom 8 (May 2016) and CRS-9 (July 2016).
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