The era of NASA’s space shuttle is nearing its completion and SpaceX is erring up to take over. Elon Musk, the founder of private space company Space Exploration Technologies Corp (SpaceX) said that world’s most powerful rocket the Falcon Heavy vehicle would be ready for lift off at the end of 2012.
The rocket would be capable of taking men to the International Space Station and will also drop vehicles and astronauts on the moon. Musk said that it is likely that Falcon Heavy may even cruise to Mars and back.
"This is a rocket of truly huge scale," Musk said at a press conference unveiling the rocket. "With Falcon Heavy, we'll be able to put well over 100,000 pounds into orbit," he said, adding, "That's more than a fully loaded Boeing 737 -- with passengers and fuel" and even luggage. The Falcon Heavy consists of a standard Falcon 9 rocket and will be fitted with two additional Falcon 9 first-stage rockets, which will act as liquid strap-on boosters. The rocket will be powered by upgraded Merlin engines and will generate 3.8 million pounds of thrust at liftoff, remarked Musk.
Musk said that the Falcon Heavy will carry satellites and other such payloads into space and will also carry humans to the space. "It can launch people if need be, and do so safely," he said. The Falcon Heavy will be heavier than the Delta IV Heavy's 25-ton capacity. It will be assembled at California's Vanderburg Air Force Base. Musk however, added that the rocket would be able to take off from Cape Canaveral as well.
