# B1066

> expended Falcon Heavy core booster

**Wikidata**: [Q112228381](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q112228381)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/b1066

## Summary
B1066 was a SpaceX Falcon Heavy core booster that was expended during the USSF-44 mission on November 1, 2022. It was part of the Falcon 9 Block 5 series and supported critical national security payloads for the U.S. Space Force. As a core stage, it played a central role in the Falcon Heavy launch configuration.

## Key Facts
- **Mission**: Supported the USSF-44 mission for the U.S. Space Force on November 1, 2022.
- **Launch Site**: Kennedy Space Center Launch Complex 39A.
- **Role**: Served as the core booster in the Falcon Heavy rocket configuration.
- **Manufacturer**: SpaceX.
- **Serial Number**: B1066 (SpaceX designation).
- **Preceded By**: B1065 (Falcon Heavy side booster).
- **Followed By**: B1067 (Falcon 9 first-stage booster).
- **Status**: Expended during launch; not recovered or reused.
- **Vehicle Class**: Falcon 9 Block 5.

## FAQs
### Q: What mission did B1066 support?
A: B1066 was the core booster for the USSF-44 mission, launching U.S. Space Force payloads on November 1, 2022.

### Q: Was B1066 reused after its launch?
A: No, B1066 was expended during the USSF-44 mission and was not recovered for reuse.

### Q: How does B1066 relate to other Falcon boosters?
A: It followed B1065 (a Falcon Heavy side booster) and preceded B1067 (a Falcon 9 booster), reflecting SpaceX's sequential production of launch vehicles.

## Why It Matters
B1066 is significant as the core booster for a critical U.S. Space Force mission (USSF-44), demonstrating SpaceX's capability to support national security launches. While most Falcon 9 Block 5 boosters are designed for reusability, B1066's expendable nature highlights the flexibility of SpaceX's launch systems for high-priority missions requiring unique trajectories or payload requirements. Its role in the Falcon Heavy configuration also underscores the rocket's heavy-lift capabilities, essential for deploying sensitive government satellites. As part of the Block 5 series, B1066 represented the latest advancements in SpaceX's launch technology, even in a non-reusable context.

## Notable For
- First Falcon Heavy core booster expended since 2019 (STP-2 mission).
- Supported a classified U.S. Space Force mission critical to national security.
- Demonstrated SpaceX's ability to tailor launch configurations (expendable vs. reusable) to mission requirements.
- Part of the Falcon Heavy rocket, the most powerful operational launch vehicle at the time.

## Body
### Launch History
- **Mission**: USSF-44 for the U.S. Space Force.
- **Date**: November 1, 2022.
- **Launch Site**: Kennedy Space Center Launch Complex 39A.
- **Payload**: Classified payloads, including the TETRA-6 satellite and other experimental technology.

### Vehicle Design
- **Configuration**: Falcon Heavy core stage, flanked by two Falcon 9 side boosters (B1062 and B1064).
- **Block 5 Features**: Incorporated upgrades for reusability and performance, though B1066 itself was not recovered.
- **Propulsion**: Powered by Merlin engines, with the core stage contributing to the Falcon Heavy's 22,800+ kN thrust at liftoff.

### Operational Outcome
- **Expendable Launch**: B1066 did not attempt recovery due to mission requirements, resulting in its destruction after stage separation.
- **Mission Success**: Deployed payloads into geostationary orbit, marking the fourth operational Falcon Heavy launch and the first since 2019.

## Schema Markup
```json
{
  "@context": "https://schema.org",
  "@type": "Rocket",
  "name": "B1066",
  "description": "Expended Falcon Heavy core booster for the USSF-44 mission",
  "manufacturer": "SpaceX",
  "serialNumber": "B1066",
  "countryOfOrigin": "United States",
  "dateOfDissolution": "2022-11-01",
  "significantEvent": {
    "@type": "Event",
    "name": "USSF-44 Launch",
    "location": "Kennedy Space Center Launch Complex 39A",
    "startDate": "2022-11-01"
  },
  "sameAs": ["https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q114923043"],
  "additionalType": "Falcon 9 Block 5"
}