Youve probably seen some clips of the Space X launch that took place today already but if not you really did miss something pretty spectacular. The launch was successful though it appears one of the three boosters did not land itself properly. Still, the image of the two boosters landing themselves simultaneously on adjacent landing pads seemed unreal. And then on top of that, there was the cargo for this test launch: Elon Musks own Tesla Roadster with Spaceman at the wheel (actually Space Xs own space suit design). From Space.com:
Standing 23 stories tall, the Falcon Heavy rocket is SpaceXs largest rocket yet and the most powerful booster since NASAs mighty Saturn V moon rocket. Its first stage is powered by three core boosters based on SpaceXs Falcon 9 rockets, with 27 engines (nine per booster) firing in unison to produce about 5 million lbs. of thrust (22,819 kilonewtons) at liftoff
SpaceX has now successfully landed Falcon-family rockets 24 times three on this mission alone. (The rocket family is named after another famously reusable spaceship, the fictional Millennium Falcon from Star Wars, Musk has said.)
But perhaps the biggest draw of todays launch was the Falcon Heavys unique payload: a Tesla Roadster riding atop the rockets second stage.
Musk announced in December that the midnight cherry red convertible, which he owns, would be the first Falcon Heavy payload. Then, on Monday, he revealed another surprise: a spacesuit-clad mannequin called Starman(a reference to David Bowies song Starman) in the drivers seat, with its right hand on the wheel and left arm resting on the door.
So to sum up, Musk sent his car to mars with a driver named for a David Bowie song on a launch vehicle named after a Star Wars spaceship. Not a bad day if youre a nerd who enjoys science and science fiction. The full Space X video is below, but if you only have a moment now, watch this because its incredible:
As mentioned above, it seems the day didnt quite go perfectly. The Verge is reporting that the center core, which was supposed to land out at sea, did not make it.
Though the Falcon Heavys outer cores successfully landed after launch this afternoon, the middle core of SpaceXs huge rocket missed the drone ship where it was supposed to land, a source tells The Verge. SpaceX hasnt yet confirmed this publicly.
Still, Elon Musk is clearly having a very good day today and and who can blame him:
View from SpaceX Launch Control. Apparently, there is a car in orbit around Earth. pic.twitter.com/QljN2VnL1O
BTW, you probably know that Falcon Heavy is bigger than Russia's 50yo Proton design. Their pre-orders for upcoming flights have been virtually sucked dry. The West is effectively boycotting the Russian launch vehicles. Russia essentially has only a handful of orders for launches remaining. Russia still had its Soyuz for the ISS flights that they made good money off us with. But their rocket designs are very old. They can't land their boosters like SpaceX. They cost more than France's Ariane rockets. And China passed Russia in total launches in 2016. India and Japan have credible programs as well.
This seems to be part of the price Russia is paying via sanctions and boycotts for taking Crimea and stirring a civil war in eastern Ukraine, much as it did to dismantle South Ossetia and Abkhazia from Georgia.
And America will surpass Russia's oil production this year to rival even the Saudis.
BTW, you probably know that Falcon Heavy is bigger than Russia's 50yo Proton design.
I believe I do remember reading something like that, and the Proton was a monster. Never really went into serious service though, did it? I take that back; must have been thinking of a different series.
Having held in my hands objects that now sit on the surface of Venus, and later worked in -60 to +110F outside temps to make sure we could keep tracking spy satellites and Shuttle launches, I've always tried to keep up with space technology. My Dad dropped stuff onto the Moon and Jupiter; must have picked it up from him.