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SPACEX is currently undergoing final preparations for the historic launch of the world's most powerful rocket, the Falcon Heavy.
If everything goes as planned, today 's flight will be the first time that the huge spaceship will transport its customers into space after the memorable launch of its maiden inaugural flight of L & D. # 39; last year – a test that saw the boss of SpaceX billionaire, Elon Musk, send his own car beyond the orbit.
SpaceX
We have all the details of the historic mission below as Musk and co-try to consolidate their status as champions of private space travel.
What is SpaceX and who is Elon Musk?
SpaceX is a private space company that aims to make the transportation of material in space cheaper.
Based in Hawthorne, California, it was created in 2002 by billionaire entrepreneur Elon Musk, best known as the boss of electric car manufacturer Tesla.
The company's goal is to build reusable rockets capable of carrying payloads into space at a much lower cost than traditional carriers before returning safely to Earth.
SpaceX
Before SpaceX embarks on the space game, telecommunication companies, armed forces and satellite companies have trusted NASA or the Russian space agency Roscosmos to send elements beyond the 39; orbit.
Last year, Musk operated 19 commercial flights from its Falcon 9 rocket, surpassing all countries except China (33).
Each spot on any of these trips costs 47 million pounds per pitcher. By way of comparison, NASA pays about £ 62 million per seat every time it sends an astronaut into space aboard a Roscosmos rocket.
The eccentric boss Musk made his billions as co-founder of PayPal.
He had 12 months of hot scandals in which he described a British diver as "pedo" on Twitter and smoked cannabis live on YouTube in California, where the drug is legal.
Reuters
What is the Falcon Heavy?
The Falcon Heavy is the world's most powerful rocket, with twice the power of any operational spacecraft, according to SpaceX.
Using 28 rocket engines housed in three reusable thrusters, it takes off with the power of eighteen 747 aircraft at full throttle.
Two lateral boosters separate simultaneously shortly after launch and land on Earth, while a third core, the center, separates a little later and lands on an automated vessel in the Atlantic Ocean.
The Falcon Heavy can carry a payload of 63,000 kilos in low Earth orbit – more than the mass of a 737 jet airliner loaded with passengers, crew, baggage and fuel.
SpaceX can charge the craft with double the payload that its Falcon 9 rocket can carry.
This means that the Falcon Heavy gives SpaceX a great opportunity to carry a lot more things in space (and thus make more money for buckets).
Its first and up to now the only launch was launched in the space as part of a highly publicized test organized on February 6, 2018.
Reuters
What time is the launch today and how can I watch it?
The Falcon Heavy should be launched for the first time in the evening around 22:35 GMT.
If all goes according to plan, it will be broadcast live from the YouTube channel or the SpaceX website.
The flight was originally scheduled for Tuesday night, but was delayed by adverse weather conditions until Wednesday, and then again on Thursday.
Squeezing a launch pad from NASA's Kennedy Space Center (KSC) in Florida, the Falcon Heavy will carry a huge satellite into low Earth orbit.
The Saudi Arabsat company is responsible for the communications satellite, which will transmit telephone signals and more to parts of Africa and the Middle East.
While last February 's test was the first flight of the rocket, the fact that today' s launch involves a commercial payload makes it the first "true" mission of Falcon Heavy.
Hold your horses before getting too excited, as there is a chance that bad weather may delay the launch further.
Twitter / SpaceX
Why did Elon Musk send his car in space?
Last year, at the launch of Falcon Heavy, SpaceX boss Elon Musk strangely sent his car into space.
Images from the bright red Tesla floating above the Earth have seduced the world.
In addition to being a neat waterfall, there was actually a method to the madness.
Most test rockets are loaded with concrete or water to simulate the weight of a real payload.
Musk and SpaceX have decided to break the Falcon Heavy with a car to make the launch a little more exciting.
He drew criticism from some space experts.
After the launch, former NASA Director Lori Garver said, "I'm sure they would call the idea of a brilliant and provocative car, my word was great."
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What will happen at the launch of the Falcon Heavy? Let us know in the comments!
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