Falcon Heavy

SpaceX plans to use Kennedy Space Center LC-39A almost exclusively for Falcon Heavy and Starship launches while flying Falcon 9 launches, including crewed missions, from SLC-40.

Falcon Heavy has completed 11 successful flights.

The outer three docked Falcon Heavy upper stages would fire their Merlin 1Dv engines for TLI and LOI, and the central stage rocket would be used to land the combined vehicle on the lunar surface with throttling as needed.

Falcon Heavy LEO payload capacity is approximately 38 tons fully reusable, 54 tons partially reusable, or 63 tons fully expendable.

Using four Falcon Heavy launches for the cargo concept yields substantial cost savings relative to SLS-based NRHO operations under the cited numbers.

Launch Complex 39A will remain active to support Falcon Heavy launches and a limited number of Falcon 9 launches despite the Starship transition.

Viasat will launch the ViaSat-3 F3 satellite on SpaceX’s Falcon Heavy.

As of January 9, 2026, an FCC filing referenced short-duration telemetry and command RF functional checks at the Falcon Heavy Launch Pad SLC-39A and the SpaceX Payload Processing Facility for a Boeing 702MP+ bus with a 2026-03-27 to 2026-09-27 test window.

SpaceX planned to launch most Falcon 9 missions from SLC-40, including all Dragon missions, with LC-39A dedicated to Falcon Heavy and Starship operations.

As of January 9, 2026, Boeing's 702MP+ satellite design was identified as the bus for ViaSat-3, consistent with ViaSat-3 F3 being manifested for Falcon Heavy.

The Space Force traded a GPS III mission from a Vulcan to a Falcon 9 and exchanged a later GPS IIIF mission from a Falcon Heavy to a Vulcan to retain mission flexibility.

SpaceX has converted another Falcon Heavy Center Core, B1099, into a Falcon 9.

The Space Force has relied on SpaceX’s Falcon Heavy rocket since the retirement of ULA's Delta IV Heavy last year.

New Glenn 9x4 or Falcon Heavy may be considered for future lunar missions.

New Glenn is taller and more powerful than SpaceX's Falcon Heavy and can carry a greater amount of payload to orbit.

The Roman Telescope is set to launch on Falcon Heavy between October 2026 and May 2027.

SpaceX conducts dozens of Falcon 9 and Falcon Heavy missions each year.

Astrobotic's first Griffin lunar lander is scheduled to launch aboard a Falcon Heavy no earlier than July 2026.