Falcon Heavy's Maiden Voyage
The SpaceX Falcon heavy launched on the 28th of February, 2018, becoming the most powerful rocket in operation. Its power is only surpassed by the Saturn 5 rocket from the moon age. After a successful launch, viewers of the live broadcast could see the cherry-red Tesla roadster launched in the rocket fly into space. In the car, there was a manikin with a space suit on dubbed 'Starman'. The car was also playing the song "Space Oddity" by David Bowie.
The rocket consisted of three Falcon 9 rockets, two of which served as boosters, and then there was the second stage. None of the parts that were recovered will be reused. The car and the manikin served as a more interesting payload. The original plan was to launch a boring piece of metal but was changed when Tesla and SpaceX founder Elon Musk volunteered his own car.
My science teacher told the class about this launch in the second period and invited us to his room during homeroom to watch it live. Unfortunately for us, the launch was then delayed to the middle of Spanish class. My friends and I complained because our Spanish teacher wouldn't let us watch it, but then it was delayed to the middle of the 6th period, and I was allowed to watch it live.
At first, when the engines started, the rocket didn't move. However, it quickly accelerated leaving behind a cloud of smoke. The launch went smoothly, and the booster stages landed perfectly. However, the first stage did not fully initiate final burn, as it was supposed to, and landed in the ocean leaving the drone-ship with two broken engines. The broadcast continued as Starman cruised through space.
After the launch, many things happened. First, the Tesla Roadster's path was recalculated, and it is now going to orbit the sun in an ellipsis instead of Mars. Experts think that the car will not last more than a year because of radiation and micro-meteors. Also, there have been many odd and amusing theories that have popped up like YouTube videos titled "The Tesla Roadster Should be Melting" and "The Government Actually Shot Down the Falcon Heavy Rocket." The first is phony because the temperatures in space are very cold. The other theory is just a conspiracy theory and has no basis in logic or science. Lastly, Elon Musk declared that the recovered boosters will not be flying again because they are outdated and were going to be replaced before the launch.
This partially successful maiden voyage opens the door for private space companies and paves the way for future inventions in the space industry.
The rocket consisted of three Falcon 9 rockets, two of which served as boosters, and then there was the second stage. None of the parts that were recovered will be reused. The car and the manikin served as a more interesting payload. The original plan was to launch a boring piece of metal but was changed when Tesla and SpaceX founder Elon Musk volunteered his own car.
My science teacher told the class about this launch in the second period and invited us to his room during homeroom to watch it live. Unfortunately for us, the launch was then delayed to the middle of Spanish class. My friends and I complained because our Spanish teacher wouldn't let us watch it, but then it was delayed to the middle of the 6th period, and I was allowed to watch it live.
At first, when the engines started, the rocket didn't move. However, it quickly accelerated leaving behind a cloud of smoke. The launch went smoothly, and the booster stages landed perfectly. However, the first stage did not fully initiate final burn, as it was supposed to, and landed in the ocean leaving the drone-ship with two broken engines. The broadcast continued as Starman cruised through space.
After the launch, many things happened. First, the Tesla Roadster's path was recalculated, and it is now going to orbit the sun in an ellipsis instead of Mars. Experts think that the car will not last more than a year because of radiation and micro-meteors. Also, there have been many odd and amusing theories that have popped up like YouTube videos titled "The Tesla Roadster Should be Melting" and "The Government Actually Shot Down the Falcon Heavy Rocket." The first is phony because the temperatures in space are very cold. The other theory is just a conspiracy theory and has no basis in logic or science. Lastly, Elon Musk declared that the recovered boosters will not be flying again because they are outdated and were going to be replaced before the launch.
This partially successful maiden voyage opens the door for private space companies and paves the way for future inventions in the space industry.
Article By Aneesh Movva, Featured Blogger
Comments
Post a Comment