By WILLIAM MALVEAUX
Picture the world’s most powerful rocket blasting off for the first time on a journey to near the majesty of the mysterious red planet. 500 million dollars of cutting-edge technology fires into the air in an eruption of sound, but there is quite the unusual passenger.
On Tuesday, Feb. 6, 2018, the company SpaceX unleashed the massive and powerful Falcon Heavy rocket, the second most powerful in history, carrying 27 engines, two side boosters and Chief Executive Officer Elon Musk’s red Tesla Roadster. No need to fear–the car was manned by a mannequin in a spacesuit, and some decent tunes playing: David Bowie, to be exact. Though the physical status of the car has not yet been deduced, it can be assumed that its in fair condition. SpaceX also shared that the vehicle could be in an orbit around the sun that could last one billion years. That is a long time to be on Rainbow Road.
The Falcon Heavy is essentially three smaller Falcon 9 rockets bound together, creating the 27 engine wielding a mammoth of 64 tons. The rocket is planned to be an equipment vessel for future deep space voyages which is crucial if the company is to bring to fruition their goal of a self-sustaining human civilization on Mars.
Even though all this is exciting, the company plans on sending the first humans to the planet in 2024, which is quite a ways off. For now, it is best to sit back and watch the company do what it does best: push humanity towards its destined ascension to the stars.