SpaceX Falcon Heavy vs NASA's SLS Rocket: A Detailed Comparison

Thursday, September 28, 2023 | Chimniii Desk

SpaceX's Falcon Heavy and NASA's Space Launch System (SLS) are two of the most powerful rockets in the world. Both rockets are capable of launching heavy payloads into deep space, but they have different design philosophies and capabilities.

Falcon Heavy

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Falcon Heavy launch of largest commercial communications satellite scrubbed – Spaceflight Now

The Falcon Heavy is a heavy-lift launch vehicle developed and operated by SpaceX. It is the most powerful operational rocket in the world, capable of lifting over 140 tons of payload to low Earth orbit. The Falcon Heavy is a three-core rocket, consisting of a central core and two side boosters. The side boosters are recycled Falcon 9 first stages, which makes the Falcon Heavy a relatively inexpensive rocket to launch.

SLS

What Is the Space Launch System? | NASA

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The SLS is a super heavy-lift launch vehicle developed and operated by NASA. It is the most powerful rocket ever built, capable of lifting over 130 tons of payload to low Earth orbit. The SLS is a four-core rocket, consisting of a central core and three side boosters. The side boosters are derived from the Space Shuttle Solid Rocket Boosters. The SLS is a more expensive rocket to launch than the Falcon Heavy, but it is capable of launching heavier payloads.

Comparison

Here is a detailed comparison of the Falcon Heavy and SLS rockets:

Characteristic	Falcon Heavy	SLS
Payload to low Earth orbit	140 tons	130 tons
Payload to trans-lunar injection	26.7 tons	70 tons
Payload to Mars	8.5 tons	27.5 tons
Height	70 meters	98 meters
Diameter	12.2 meters	8.4 meters
Engines	27 Merlin engines	4 RS-25 engines and 2 solid rocket boosters
Reusability	Partially reusable (side boosters)	Not reusable
Cost	$90 million	$4 billion

Advantages and disadvantages

The Falcon Heavy has several advantages over the SLS. It is cheaper to launch, partially reusable, and has a longer flight history. The SLS has a higher payload capacity, but it is more expensive to launch, not reusable, and has a shorter flight history.

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Conclusion

The Falcon Heavy and SLS rockets are both powerful rockets capable of launching heavy payloads into deep space. The Falcon Heavy is a more cost-effective option, while the SLS has a higher payload capacity. The best choice of rocket depends on the specific mission requirements.

Which rocket is better?

There is no definitive answer to the question of which rocket is better. The Falcon Heavy and SLS rockets are both capable of launching heavy payloads into deep space, but they have different advantages and disadvantages. The best choice of rocket depends on the specific mission requirements.

For example, if a mission requires launching a heavy payload into low Earth orbit, then the Falcon Heavy would be a good choice. However, if a mission requires launching a heavy payload to the moon or Mars, then the SLS would be a better choice.

Ultimately, the decision of which rocket to use is up to the mission planners. They will consider the mission requirements, the cost of the launch, and the reliability of the rocket when making their decision.

FAQ

Q: What is the SpaceX Falcon Heavy?

The SpaceX Falcon Heavy is a heavy-lift launch vehicle developed and operated by SpaceX. It is the most powerful operational rocket in the world, capable of lifting over 140 tons of payload to low Earth orbit. The Falcon Heavy is a three-core rocket, consisting of a central core and two side boosters. The side boosters are recycled Falcon 9 first stages, which makes the Falcon Heavy a relatively inexpensive rocket to launch.

Q: What is NASA's Space Launch System (SLS)?

Q: What are the key differences between the Falcon Heavy and SLS rockets?

The main differences between the Falcon Heavy and SLS rockets are their payload capacity, cost, and reusability. The SLS has a higher payload capacity than the Falcon Heavy, but it is also more expensive to launch and not reusable. The Falcon Heavy has a lower payload capacity than the SLS, but it is less expensive to launch and partially reusable.

Q: Which rocket is better?

Q: What are the advantages and disadvantages of the Falcon Heavy?

The advantages of the Falcon Heavy include its lower cost, partial reusability, and longer flight history. The disadvantages of the Falcon Heavy include its lower payload capacity and shorter flight history.

Q: What are the advantages and disadvantages of the SLS?

The advantages of the SLS include its higher payload capacity and longer flight history. The disadvantages of the SLS include its higher cost and lack of reusability.

Q: Which rocket is better for launching a heavy payload to low Earth orbit?

The Falcon Heavy is a good choice for launching a heavy payload to low Earth orbit because it is less expensive to launch than the SLS.

Q: Which rocket is better for launching a heavy payload to the moon or Mars?

The SLS is a better choice for launching a heavy payload to the moon or Mars because it has a higher payload capacity than the Falcon Heavy.

Q: Which rocket is more reliable?

Both the Falcon Heavy and SLS rockets are reliable rockets. The Falcon Heavy has a longer flight history than the SLS, but the SLS has been designed based on proven technologies.

Q: Which rocket is more likely to be used for future missions?

Both the Falcon Heavy and SLS rockets are likely to be used for future missions. The Falcon Heavy is likely to be used for commercial missions, while the SLS is likely to be used for government missions.