New Falcon Heavy Rocket Represents a Major Bet for SpaceX
Widely acknowledged as an engineering marvel, new booster faces uncertain commercial demand
SpaceX’s long-delayed Falcon Heavy rocket, slated for its maiden flight on Tuesday, faces uncertain commercial prospects and lacks a clear role in efforts to send U.S. astronauts back to the moon or deeper into the solar system.
The company conceived the rocket at the beginning of the decade, when SpaceX was an underdog fighting to increase its share of launches and needed a beefed-up alternative to a fleet of underpowered boosters. But after spending some $1 billion and grappling with five years of delays and huge technical...