The day space geeks and even casual science enthusiasts have been waiting for is almost here: SpaceX will finally launch its Falcon Heavy rocket into orbit on Tuesday.
But Phil Plait, author at “The Bad Astronomer”, told Cheddar that all the stars have to be aligned for Elon Musk’s company to give the go-ahead.
“There’s a lot going on, and a lot can go wrong,” he said. “The two side boosters are going to detach, they’ll land back on land at Cape Canaveral. The other booster will then push the payload up into orbit, and it will land on a floating drone ship in the Atlantic. Then the upper stage will boost the car and its passenger out into interplanetary space.”
“Elon Musk has been downplaying the odds of this thing working. And he said this will be spectacular, one way or another”
SpaceX’s CEO introduced the concept for the Falcon Heavy back in 2011, calling it the most powerful rocket in the world by a factor of two. But multiple delays pushed back the original 2013 launch target by five years. Now the rocket, comprised of three Falcon 9 vessels strapped together, may be ready for prime time.
The Falcon Heavy will carry Musk’s original red Tesla Roadster and “Starman,” a pressure suit sitting in as a driver, for its first mission.
Ultimately SpaceX hopes the Heavy will drastically cut the cost of space travel, making it possible to eventually send people to Mars, though Plait acknowledges that is far in the future.
The rocket costs about $95 million per flight, compared to $350 million for other missions.
How Incorporating Resistance Bands Can Diversify Workout Sessions
A giant Tyrannosaurus rex skeleton that’s been dug up from three sites in the United States is going up for auction in Zurich. It's a first sale of its kind in Europe.
As the inaugural guest on Cheddar News' new show Be Well, Dr. Sandra Lee, also known as Dr. Pimple Popper, discussed when (and when not) to pop a pimple and how to take care of your skin and keep an eye out for signs of more dangerous issues such as cancer.
Moderna and Merck & Co. have developed a cancer vaccine that cuts the risk of death or recurrence of most deadly skin cancer by 44 percent compared to Keytruda on its own, according to researchers.
The company got the OK on Friday from the Federal Aviation Administration. CEO Elon Musk is giving 50-50 odds of Starship reaching orbit.
Vertical farming startup Babylon Micro-Farms recently raised $8 million in a Serie A round. Alexander Oleson, CEO and co-founder of Babylon Micro-Farms, joined Cheddar News to explain his company's mission to help businesses and communities grow their own fresh produce in a sustainable manner.
A new lab test can detect Parkinson's disease in its early stages.
Cheddar News is highlighting companies with a focus on sustainability for Earth Month. Ashley Allen, chief sustainability officer with Oatly, joined Cheddar News to discuss her company's mission to deliver products that have a minimal environmental impact. "We want to make it easy for people to eat better and live healthier lives without recklessly taxing the planet's resources," she said.
'Plant Kween' Talks Low Maintenance Care for Budding Plant Parents
The first image of a black hole captured in 2019 is getting a makeover. Researchers on Thursday revealed an updated version, which they made using artificial intelligence.
