Mr. Musk’s ultimate goal — sending people to Mars — requires inventing businesses and profits that do not exist today. He also may be angling for the federal government to help pay his way.
Whatever the case, the Falcon Heavy is SpaceX’s next step in aiming beyond the existing launch business and demonstrating that it can do more than place communications satellites in orbit and haul cargo for NASA to the International Space Station. What exactly is SpaceX launching?
The Falcon Heavy rocket is essentially a turbocharged version of SpaceX’s workhorse Falcon 9 rocket. It is the same height and its central booster looks the same. But attached on the sides are two additional Falcon 9 boosters, which triples the thrust at liftoff. That means that the Heavy will be able to lift far heavier payloads, up to 140,000 pounds, to low-Earth orbit. Continue reading the main story
He’s copying the movie Heavy Metal. Look up the opening sequence.
2 different live feeds
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0KSr1RBsB4s
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mrmVWmDBFFw
gnip
Future astro-archeologists will seek out the legendary Elon’s Space Oddity. Recovery will be & mark an astounding achievement.
There will be arguments about whether it should be left to drift, visited on-site by enthusiasts & schoolchildren on field trips, or retrieved from its path and brought back for better preservation (and restoration!) in the Smithsonian’s museum planet.
Thanks for reminder. Hope there is no delay and that the launch
is successful.
Launch @ 3:45PM EST
YouTube live feed has started (video filler for now) at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wbSwFU6tY1c
They keep saying “No matter what happens.”, “No matter what happens.” Like they KNOW it’s going to fail somehow.....
What an absolutely wasteful stunt, launching a car into space. Is there some scientific purpose I’m not aware of?
Awesome launch.
Two boosters landed back on the ground.
No confirmation on center landing on ship yet.
Feed was cut due to vibrations on ship.
Affects antenna for feed.
The Red Roadster is heading to Mars.
“Starman” looking like a badass sitting in the Tesla...in space..lol
...still can't find Hillary's emails...
I couldn’t go all the way to Cape Canaveral (live on FL west coast) but my 13 year old and I did watch the launch from the 11th floor of the parking garage at the Orlando airport. Pretty neat to see! We could also see the two boosters come back down.