First Stage Fueling Started

A SpaceX Falcon Heavy rocket with the Psyche spacecraft onboard is ready for launch at Kennedy Space Center’s Launch Complex 39A on Friday, Oct. 13, 2023.
A SpaceX Falcon Heavy rocket with the Psyche spacecraft onboard is ready for launch at Kennedy Space Center’s Launch Complex 39A on Friday, Oct. 13, 2023. Photo credit: NASA Television

Moments ago, mission teams polled “go” to begin fueling the Falcon Heavy’s three first-stage core boosters.

The Falcon Heavy is a two-stage rocket with a central core and two side boosters that uses RP-1 (a refined kerosene) and liquid oxygen (LOX) to fuel its 27 Merlin engines, which combine to generate 5,000,000 pounds of thrust. Loading of the RP-1 and LOX is now underway.