CURRENT AFFAIRS

Detailed explanation-1: -falcon heavy: SpaceX launches world’s most powerful rocket ‘Falcon Heavy’ on Space Force mission.

Detailed explanation-2: -For years, the Falcon Heavy was the world’s most powerful operational rocket. But in November, NASA’s new moon rocket, called Space Launch System, or SLS, stole that title with its inaugural launch. SLS launched the uncrewed Artemis 1 mission around the moon, paving the way for future missions with astronauts on board.

Detailed explanation-3: -With 8.8 million pounds of thrust, the SLS is 15 percent more powerful than the Saturn V, meaning the SLS now holds the record for the most powerful rocket ever successfully launched. Its thrust is equivalent to nearly all the train engines in the U.S. running at once - some 25,000 of them - according to NASA.

Detailed explanation-4: -The SLS, a key piece of hardware for NASA’s Artemis moon program, is now the most powerful rocket ever to launch successfully. The huge rocket took the mantle from the iconic Saturn V, which sent Apollo astronauts to the moon in the late 1960s and early 1970s.

Detailed explanation-5: -The currently active version, Falcon 9 Block 5, has flown 145 missions, all full successes. On 20 October 2022, Falcon 9 set a new record of 48 launches (all successful) by the same launch vehicle type in a calendar year. The previous record was held by Soyuz-U, which had 47 launches (45 successful) in 1979.