After delays of a few years, the Falcon Heavy rocket looks set to finally have its day in the sun. SpaceX CEO Elon Musk confirmed Sunday night the much- and often-delayed maiden launch of the rocket was still on schedule for Tuesday, like he had announced a week earlier
He was referring to Florida time, which is the same as the rest of the East Coast.
Falcon Heavy, if its launch is successful, would be the world’s most powerful rocket in operation. Only two rockets in history — NASA’s Saturn V and the Soviet-era Russian-built Energia — were more powerful than the SpaceX rocket. And that is part of the reason why the Falcon Heavy is a good candidate for making a successful trip to neighboring Mars.
Musk has been talking about colonizing the red planet for years now, and Mars is where the controls of Falcon Heavy are set for. On its test flight, the only payload the rocket would carry is Musk’s own cherry-red Tesla Roadster, which would, rather appropriately, be playing the late David Bowie’s “Space Oddity.” (Even though Musk has said the song would play in orbit around Mars, it is unclear how the car’s music system would stay powered for the entire duration of the trip.)