SpaceX surprised the world with a glimpse of its biggest rocket, the Falcon Heavy, on its Instagram page.
The photo was the perfect teaser, showcasing just part of the massive rocket as it rested in the factory, with its logo stamped on the side.
The caption on the Instagram photo echoes the company's decision to launch in 2017, after being pushed back from the original 2016 plans.
The World's Most Powerful Rocket
SpaceX has many rockets to showcase, but the Falcon Heavy is undoubtedly one special rocket. From the name itself, Falcon Heavy will be the world's most powerful rocket. The Falcon Heavy boasts 27 Merlin engines with the thrust ability comparable to approximately 18 747 engines and a payload that can carry a fully loaded 737 jetliner.
Only one rocket surpasses this massive rocket's incredible payload, and that is the Saturn V Moon rocket that was last flown in 1973. One of the Falcon Heavy's aims is to reestablish the possibility of bringing humans into space.
The Giant's Flight Delay
The Falcon Heavy's new target launch will be some time in the first quarter of 2017, though a specific date has yet to be announced. In SpaceX's launch manifest, the Falcon Heavy was supposed to launch in the third quarter of 2016, four years after the initial debut target.
However, the explosion that occurred during Falcon 9's launch on Sept. 1 pushed the Falcon Heavy's launch even further.
A photo posted by SpaceX (@spacex) on Dec 28, 2016 at 12:33pm PST
What Does Falcon Heavy Contribute To Space Exploration?
With the payload that the Falcon Heavy has to offer, it's not surprising that SpaceX has already signed contracts such as the launch of the Saudi Arabian Arabsat 6A communications satellite.
However, the Falcon Heavy is also significantly being considered for the resumption of the Moon and Mars exploration programs.
The Falcon Heavy's launch is timely as the incoming Trump administration plans to reopen the idea of yet another moon exploration.
Charles Miller, one of President-elect Donald Trump's appointees for the NASA transition team, is highly supportive of possibly mounting more lunar explorations than before. In the economic assessment report led by Miller, he stresses the prospects that could arise from a sustained human presence on the moon.
Included in the report is his interest in a possible human civilization on the moon. Funny enough, the report mentions SpaceX founder and CEO Elon Musk as an inspiration for the spike in aerospace education enrollments, saying that children today compare Musk to Tony Stark, the fictional genius behind Iron Man.
