SpaceX finally launched its Falcon Heavy rocket. It’s a mission that people have been waiting for since 2011 when SpaceX CEO Elon Musk first announced plans to develop the giant vehicle.
But first, what is the Falcon Heavy? It is the heavy-lift version of SpaceX’s Falcon 9 rocket. It consists of three Falcon 9 cores strapped together, and since each Falcon 9 has nine main rocket engines, there are 27 total engines that will all be used to send this vehicle to space. This is the most of any rocket ever.
First static fire test of Falcon Heavy complete—one step closer to first test flight! pic.twitter.com/EZF4JOT8e4
— SpaceX (@SpaceX) January 24, 2018
Having a rocket this powerful means you can get a lot more stuff into space. This could be a whole new line of business for SpaceX, from sending heavier satellites into orbit or sending people into deep space. Each flight of the rocket starts at just $90 million, in comparison to the Delta IV Heavy, which runs about $350 million per launch. Robotic science missions to Mars and other worlds could also use the spacecraft, or it could be used in NASA’s plans to go back to the moon. SpaceX also has plans for space tourism.
The Falcon Heavy launched from a historic launch site at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Florida called LC-39A. It was used to launch the Apollo 11 mission to the moon and other Space Shuttle missions. SpaceX signed a 20-year lease with NASA to use the pad at 39A for the company’s flights back in 2014.
The mission was just to see if the Falcon Heavy can send a payload to orbit without it blowing up. The cargo is pretty silly: Elon Musk’s Tesla Roadster, as well as a dummy in the passenger seat, dressed in a brand-new SpaceX suit. After a successful test, the Falcon Heavy has more flights scheduled.
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