This post will not be about crypto, as you could guess from the headline, it will be short post about SpaceX and the Falcon heavy and why it matter!
The Falcon Heavy is the biggest rocket SpaceX have every build, and they are doing a test fligt today (2018.02.06). Falcon Heavy is essential 3 x their Falcon 9 rocket, which they have been using for the past years. The Falcon 9 consist of 9 merlin 1D-rocket engines which each have a 934 kN of thrust. The Falcon Heavy is then 3 x 9 = 27 total merlin 1D-rocket engines which will be able to carry a 63,800 kg payload to low earth orbit. Payloads to other locations in space:
| Payload to LEO (28.5°) | 63,800 kg (140,700 lb)[2] |
|---|---|
| Payload to GTO (27°) | 26,700 kg (58,900 lb)[2] |
| Payload to Mars | 16,800 kg (37,000 lb)[2] |
| Payload to Pluto | 3,500 kg (7,700 lb)[2] |
This is the first rocket to use that many individual engines.
If the test goes well, this is going to be the cheapest flight when comparing USD/kg. The price for each flight is going to be around 90 million USD, compared to the nest most powerful rocket will cost one 350 million USD per flight (Delta IV Heavy).
This is why it matters for the money aspect of the rocket, but the main goal, and what the money will be used for is to get the first men to mars. The rocket will need to have been tested without failure for many runs, before using it for manned mission to mars, or even the orbit.
But it won't be long before it will be tested if it can reach mars and go into orbit around mars. The payload there will be on-board today's flight is the Tesla Roadster, from Musk's other company. And if all goes will, it will be in orbit around mars in the coming year.
The Falcon Heavy need to be a success for SpaceX, not only do they need to prove that the can use their system for bigger rockets. They also already have customers lined up to use it, and a blown up rocket will not be good for them
The Launch can be watch at www.spacex.com/ and will be live in about 2 hour.
