Company Looking Ahead To Falcon Heavy Launches And Recoveries

SpaceX has asked the federal government for permission to construct two new landing pads at Cape Canaveral Air Station on the central Florida coast. The company says that it is looking ahead to the possibility of landing three separate rockets almost simultaneously.

The Orlando Sentinel reports that the company told it in an statement that it plans to fly Falcon Heavy for the first time before the end of the year. SpaceX is "seeking regulatory approval to build two additional landing pads at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station. We hope to recover all three Falcon Heavy rockets, though initially we may attempt drone ship landings.”

There are concerns about sonic booms associated with the booster recoveries. The sonic boom from Sunday's Falcon 9 launch prompted 911 calls as far away as Orlando, and the Falcon Heavies, which consist of three boosters, could produce three separate sonic booms.

The public is invited to comment on the SpaceX plan for additional landing pads by August 3. The contact is Eva Long of the U.S. Air Force’s 45th Space Wing at eva.long@us.af.mil or by mail at 45CES/CEIE, Attn. Eva Long, 1224 Jupiter St. Patrick AFB FL 32925.

FMI: www.af.mil, www.spacex.com