SpaceX’s Falcon Heavy Flies Into Orbit

SpaceX launched the Falcon Heavy from the same pad where NASA launched rockets carrying astronauts to the moon

“It seems surreal to me,” Mr. Musk said during a news conference just a few moments after the launch.

The launch of the Falcon Heavy marks a tremendously important milestone in spaceflight, as it is the first time a rocket this powerful is sent into space by a private company, and not by the government.

What is more interesting is that the rocket carries a playful payload: Mr. Musk’s red Roadster, which is an electric sports car built by his other company, Tesla. Even more, inside the car there is a mannequin which is wearing one of SpaceX’s spacesuits. They are expected to orbit the Sun for millions of years.

“It’s kind of silly and fun, but silly and fun things are important,” Mr. Musk added

This success gives momentum to SpaceX, marking the beginning of developing even larger rockets, which could possibly fulfill Mr. Musk’s dream of sending people to Mars. In this direction, he has already described a new-generation rocket named B.F.R (the B stands for big, and the R for rocket). It might be ready to launch in the mid-2020s.

The almost perfect performance of the Falcon Heavy on Tuesday “gives me a lot of confidence we can make the B.F.R. design work,” Mr. Musk said.

Moreover, he added that he hopes this launch encourages other companies to aim for more ambitious goals in space.

“We want a new space race,” he said. “Races are exciting.”

Source: nytimes.com