Falcon Heavy is the new rocket of SpaceX which, according to Elon Musk, is planned for launch next month from Cape Canaveral using the same launch pad that was used for the Apollo 11 mission. One of Falcon Heavy's cargo would be a Tesla Roadster fitted with a stereo that would be playing Space Oddity, a classic David Bowie song of 1969.
CNN reports that the launch is intended to put the payload in orbit around Mars. Elon Musk is the CEO of both SpaceX, that has revolutionized the rocket industry, and Tesla, that is manufacturing electric cars. In his words, the car will be there in space years unless it blows during ascent.
Elon Musk is a visionary
Elon Musk is an entrepreneur with a difference. His interests lie in promoting and encouraging new concepts through SpaceX and Tesla. The former concentrates on aspects related to space while the latter is more concerned about developing electric cars to fight global warming. Of course, in the process of proving its worth, SpaceX has had a number of setbacks but they have helped to improve the performance of its products.
Of course, Musk has not always been able to adhere to his timetables which can be attributed to uncertainties associated with new ventures where he is exploring totally new territories. He wants to colonize Mars and plans to land at least two spacecraft on the Red Planet in 2022.
These will transport a range of equipment, and humans would follow in 2024. With this in mind, his company is developing a giant rocket nicknamed Falcon Heavy. This is expected to take into orbit an enormous amount of payload at rates cheaper than any rival.
Reusable rocket is the answer
The acceptance of the concept of reusable rockets by the scientific community has boosted the confidence level of SpaceX and its CEO Elon Musk.
Before Musk came on the scene, the tradition had been to consider rockets as one-time use, assuming that they would burn up in the atmosphere after a mission.
However, SpaceX changed that and proved that they could be reused if properly retrieved by landing on a barge floating in the middle of the ocean. The result was a reduction in operating costs, and the company has already used this technology for several of its customers.
Incidentally, reused rockets will be a part of the maiden launch of the Falcon Heavy – there will be three Falcon 9 rockets strapped together to generate the required thrust.
There are many agencies that are keen to colonize Mars, and SpaceX is at present, one of them. It is to be seen who wins the race.
