Falcon Heavy rocket: What is it and why you should care

Falcon Heavy is the most powerful rocket to launch since the Saturn V rocket which was used in the 1970s.

    SpaceX, a private US aerospace manufacturer owned by Elon Musk, has successfully launched its new Falcon Heavy spacecraft, making it the world’s most powerful rocket.

    Below we answer some of the most asked questions about the launch.

    What is the Falcon Heavy rocket?

    • Falcon Heavy is the largest rocket since NASA’s Saturn V booster, which was used for the Moon missions in the 1970s.

    • It is essentially constructed from three Falcon 9s bolted together side-by-side.

    • “Falcon Heavy can launch about 64 tonnes into low Earth orbit – that’s almost a factor three more than the current running biggest launch vehicle, Delta IV Heavy,” Imperial College astrophysicist David Clements told Al Jazeera.

    • According to SpaceX, Falcon Heavy can lift into orbit a mass greater than a 737 jetliner loaded with passengers, crew, luggage and fuel.

     

     



    Inside Story

    Is space exploration worth the cost?

    Source: Read Full Article