SpaceX successfully completed first-stage testing of world’s most powerful rocket

SpaceX, an American aerospace manufacturer, and space transport services company, has completed testing of all the three first stage cores of its new heavy-lift rocket, the Falcon Heavy. The company has said that the first flight test of Falcon Heavy is scheduled to take place in November.

The Falcon Heavy rocket is considered to be an important element which could fulfill CEO Elon Musk’s ambitious project of reusing the rockets that could enable the crew members to fly up to Mars. Through a tweet, the company informed that they have completed the testing of Falcon Heavy’s 3 first stage cores at their rocket development facility in McGregor, TX and uploaded a video regarding the test. A first-stage core is that section of the rocket which launches and propels it into space.

According to the SpaceX website, Falcon Heavy is capable of carrying up to 37,000 pounds of cargo as well as crew to the Mars. The Falcon Heavy comprises of three Falcon 9 cores which are bound together and can generate 5 million pounds of thrust at lift-off which is equivalent to lifting approximately 18 Boeing 747 aircraft.

According to SpaceX, only the Saturn V moon rocket which was last flown in 1973, delivered more payload to orbit than the Falcon Heavy. Also on the website, the company claims that Falcon Heavy can lift more than twice the payload of the next closest operational vehicle, the Delta IV Heavy, at one-third of the cost.

The Falcon Heavy is viewed as an upgrade to the successful Falcon 9 rocket which has made several trips to space since its launch in 2102. Earlier in July, Musk announced that their company is preparing towards a November launch of the new rocket but gave warning that there is a chance of failure of the test.

On September 1 Musk tweeted that although he is going to upload a blooper reel of the SpaceX program’s failed attempts during rocket landing.  According to Fortune, out of the three cores that were used in the test, one was used previously to power a Falcon 9 rocket on a space station resupply mission. The SpaceX said that they are always committed to providing cost efficient space journey by using the concept of reusability of rockets and are hopeful that the Falcon Heavy will deliver a successful flight.

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Nitin Agarwal

Nitin started PC-Tablet because of his keen interest in space research, technology, and gadgets. He is an avid reader, technology enthusiast, and like to explore new places. His passion for knowledge keeps him running all the time.