While NASA plans to launch its super rocket on the Moon in 2019, SpaceX has just tested its own pitcher, the Falcon Heavy Rocket. On the afternoon of Wednesday, January 24, 2018, the Elon Musk spacecraft fired the 27 Merlin engines from the rocket. The launch took place around 12:30 pm from the Kennedy Space Center in Florida.
The shot lasted almost twelve seconds. It gave rise to a spectacular explosion, followed by a gigantic boom. The engines released a large amount of exhaust that enveloped the entire space center for several minutes.
The most powerful shuttle in the world
The Space Shuttle Falcon Heavy is the result of an ambitious project that dates back to 2011. Today, this imposing structure of 120 meters high and weighing more than 4400 tons would be the most powerful launcher in the world.
In any case, this is what SpaceX asserts by considering that the power of the Falcon Heavy is comparable to the simultaneous takeoff of 18 Boeing 747s.
Falcon Heavy will be sent to Mars
The Falcon Heavy will mark the beginning of space conquest for SpaceX and Elon Musk. The super rocket will be sent on the red planet with on board a cherry-red Tesla Roadster belonging to the billionaire.
Still eccentric, the fantastic CEO of Tesla also plans to play the famous "Space Oddity" David Bowie on the car radio during its launch into orbit.
New tests would be planned, but no date has yet been confirmed. However, if we rely on Elon Musk's tweet that implies a launch in "a week or so", it could be early February.