Second Stage Fueling Started

NASA's Europa Clipper spacecraft and SpaceX's Falcon Heavy rocket stands at Launch Pad 39A on Sunday, Oct. 13, 2024, at the agency's Kennedy Space Center in Florida ahead of launch to Jupiter's icy moon, Europa. Photo credit: NASA+

SpaceX confirms that fueling for the second stage of the Falcon Heavy rocket carrying the Europa Clipper spacecraft is underway at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida.

Comprising three Falcon 9 nine-engine cores, the 27 Merlin engines of the Falcon Heavy combine to generate more than 5 million pounds of thrust at liftoff, equal to approximately 18,747 aircraft.

Merlin engines - originally designed for recovery and reuse - use RP-1 and liquid oxygen as rocket propellants in a gas-generator power cycle.

Falcon Heavy utilizes the same second stage and same payload fairings as flown on Falcon 9.

In about 10 minutes, engine chill will begin on the rocket in preparation for launch, followed by the rocket and spacecraft transitioning to internal power. This will be NASA's Launch Services Program tenth mission using a SpaceX rocket.

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