Today marks a ground-breaking leap in space exploration, as Elon Musk’s SpaceX is set to launch its landmark Falcon Heavy rocket at approximately 6:30pm GMT (1:30pm US eastern time) from the NASA Kennedy Space Centre in Florida. Here’s how you can watch it online via live stream.
The ambitious launch will see the colossal 27 engine Falcon Heavy rocket blast off into space, making it the most powerful rocket operating on, and off, Earth.
Elon Musk’s SpaceX has made countless aerospace headlines recently, but the Falcon Heavy represents the grandaddy of all rocket launches. Three Falcon 9 rockets have been combined to create this behemoth, with the size of Falcon Heavy necessary for its purpose of carrying larger spacecraft and cargo, which is vital for Musk’s ultimate aim of colonising Mars.
Rarely one for a light touch, he has loaded the Falcon Heavy with a red Tesla Roadster, which will propel towards Mars and drift there for aeons – a waste of a beautiful car if you ask us!
The launch broadcast will begin about 10-15 minutes before the 6:30pm GMT/1:30pm US eastern time launch and updates will continue throughout the process. At the ‘second stage,’ the camera view should show the engine thrusting the Tesla to float forever deep into outer space. Should bad weather prevent it from launching, a backup launch window has been scheduled for tomorrow (Wednesday February 7).
Watching the launch couldn’t be easier, either, as it’s being live streamed over on SpaceX.com.
After releasing its payload, the Falcon Heavy will set course back to Earth for an unprecedented landing feat. SpaceX will attempt to land two of the boosters on land – and one on a drone ship in the Atlantic Ocean. This triple-landing attempt will be a first, the SpaceX team will be on the edge of their seats, along with all live viewers.
As Musk said in 2017, “every time you fire a rocket engine there is a probability something will go wrong,” and the Falcon Heavy is certainly playing with fire given its size, the number of engines, and enormous reserves of fuel.
Musk even went on to say he would consider it a ‘win’ if the rocket makes it far away enough from the NASA launch pad for a possible explosion to cause any damage. So if you are viewing the launch today, prepare for an explosive ride, and hope that the launch will result in a Red Tesla orbiting the red sands of Mars!
What are your thoughts on the launch and its chances of success? Tell us by tweeting us @TrustedReviews
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Editorial independence
Editorial independence means being able to give an unbiased verdict about a product or company, with the avoidance of conflicts of interest. To ensure this is possible, every member of the editorial staff follows a clear code of conduct.
Professional conduct
We also expect our journalists to follow clear ethical standards in their work. Our staff members must strive for honesty and accuracy in everything they do. We follow the IPSO Editors’ code of practice to underpin these standards.
