SpaceX CEO Elon Musk is now ready to launch his rocket Falcon Heavy, the success of which will make it the world’s most powerful rocket.
The launch has been scheduled for Tuesday between 1:30 pm and 4 pm ET at Kennedy Space Center in Florida, USA.
The launch has attracted so many people all across the globe that areas around Florida’s Space Coast now are infested with people, waiting for the launch. There is no vacancy in hotel rooms and parking areas.
It’s a test flight and still involves risks owing to its heavy weight.
“It’s the biggest rocket in the world by far,” Musk told CNN.
“It’s like the first time something exciting has happened in rocket launch in a long time.”
The rocket has 27 engines and has a thrust that of 18 Boeing (BA) 747 jetliners. SpaceX is of the opinion that with this powerful thrust, Falcon Heavy will be able to transport humans to the moon or Mars.
The rocket has the capability to send satellites into space for governments and private companies. Falcon Heavy also has the capability to carry out missions in Moon and Mars.
To test its strength, Falcon Heavy will be carrying an old cherry-red Tesla sports car that will have a mannequin wearing a space suit tied up to the driving seat. The car will have three cameras that will provide ‘epic views’.
“[The car will] get about 400 million km away from Earth, and it’ll be doing 11km/s,” Musk told the reporters on Monday. “We estimate it will be in that orbit for several hundred million years, maybe in excess of a billion years.”