The Space Force said this mission will use five of the six slots including two for Space Systems Command called “catcher” and “WASSAT,” the details of which were not provided. Also flying are three payloads developed by the Space Rapid Capabilities Office: two operational prototypes for “enhanced situational awareness” and another operational “crypto/interface encryption” payload for secure space-to-ground communications. “This is a complex mission and truly represents what Assured Access to Space [a group that includes SLD 45 within Space Systems Command] is about and is why we’re so enthusiastic about this upcoming launch … our second Falcon Heavy in just months,” said Maj. Gen. Purdy. “The teamwork I’ve seen preparing for this launch has just been exceptional. We’ve worked side-by-side with SpaceX to ensure all boxes are checked … that all systems are go. And our processes for getting to that ‘go’ decision at [Launch Readiness Review] are thorough and constantly evolve, so they’re also more efficient than ever.” SpaceX has four more Falcon Heavy missions on the books for 2023 including a third Space Force mission dubbed USSF-52 expected in the first half of 2023. “I know the national security community is thrilled with the fact that the Falcon Heavy is not only proving itself capable, but it’s proving itself reliable,” DiBello said. “I think you’ll see an increasing dependence on the Falcon Heavy for launch capability for select payloads.” Also coming up for the rocket is the launch of commercial company ViaSat 3 Americas’ communications satellite expected before summer, another telecom satellite for Hughes Network Systems called the Jupiter 3 later in the year, and October’s launch of NASA’s Psyche probe headed the metal-rich asteroid of the same name that orbits the sun beyond Mars. Falcon Heavy has no problem sending payloads off toward Mars as proven by its first ever flight in 2018 that sent up Elon Musk’s Tesla roadster into space acting as the test payload for the new rocket. SpaceX followed that up with a commercial payload in April 2019 and then a Department of Defense mission in June 2019 before more than a three-year drought between launches three and four. Falcon Heavy will eventually make way for SpaceX’s in-development Starship and Super Heavy rocket, which could see its first orbital launch as early as February, Musk said this month. When it blasts off, it will more than triple the power of Falcon Heavy and if successful make it the most powerful rocket to ever launch from Earth. For now, though, Falcon Heavy, is one of the best shows in town, more than twice the power of United Launch Alliance’s Delta IV Heavy although short of SLS as well space shuttle and Apollo launches of the past. And Starship for now will only fly from Texas while SLS won’t lift off on Artemis II until at least 2024. So for sheer power, Falcon Heavy launches on the Space Coast are expected to draw out the crowds.