SpaceX Super Heavy

Super Heavy
Super Heavy Booster 12 approaching the tower during Starship flight test 5 on October 13, 2024
ManufacturerSpaceX
Country of originUnited States
Used onSpaceX Starship
Launch history
StatusIn development
Total launches6
Failed1 (Flight 1)
OtherFailed after staging: 2 (Flight 2, Flight 3)
First flightApril 20, 2023
Block 1 Super Heavy
Height71 m (233 ft),[1] 69 m (226 ft) without Vented Interstage
Diameter9 m (30 ft)
Empty mass275,000 kg (606,000 lb)
Gross mass3,675,000 kg (8,102,000 lb)
Propellant mass3,400,000 kg (7,500,000 lb)[2]
Powered by33 × Raptor 2 engines
Maximum thrust69.9 MN (15,700,000 lbf)[3]
Specific impulseSL: 327 s (3.21 km/s), Vac: 347 s (3.40 km/s)
Burn time166 seconds
PropellantCH4 / LOX

Super Heavy is the reusable first stage of the SpaceX Starship super heavy-lift launch vehicle, which it composes in combination with the Starship second stage. As a part of SpaceX's Mars colonization program, the booster evolved into its current design over a decade.[4][5][6] Production began in 2021, with the first flight being conducted on April 20, 2023, during the first launch attempt of the Starship rocket.[7][8]

The booster is powered by thirty-three Raptor engines that use liquid oxygen and methane as propellants. After propelling the second stage towards orbit, it can return to its launch site, where it lands vertically by being caught by its launch tower, allowing for full reusability.

  1. ^ Berger, Eric (April 8, 2024). "Elon Musk just gave another Mars speech—this time the vision seems tangible". Ars Technica. Retrieved November 2, 2024.
  2. ^ "SpaceX". SpaceX. Archived from the original on March 7, 2011. Retrieved May 31, 2023.
  3. ^ Berger, Eric (April 8, 2024). "Elon Musk just gave another Mars speech—this time the vision seems tangible". Ars Technica. Retrieved November 2, 2024.
  4. ^ Cite error: The named reference Weitering 2016 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  5. ^ Cite error: The named reference sn20170929 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  6. ^ Cite error: The named reference NASASpaceflight 2024c was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  7. ^ Cite error: The named reference Jackie Wattles 2023 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  8. ^ Berger, Eric (April 8, 2024). "Elon Musk just gave another Mars speech—this time the vision seems tangible". Ars Technica. Retrieved November 2, 2024.