Hawthorne-based SpaceX successfully test fired its first Falcon Heavy — the world’s most powerful rocket.
The rocket’s 27 engines roared to life for about 10 seconds on the launch pad at Cape Canaveral at 9:30 a.m. Pacific Time.
First static fire test of Falcon Heavy complete—one step closer to first test flight! pic.twitter.com/EZF4JOT8e4
— SpaceX (@SpaceX) January 24, 2018
SpaceX founder Elon Musk later tweeted, “Falcon Heavy hold-down firing this morning was good. Generated quite a thunderhead of steam. Launching in a week or so.”
The first flight will loft a test payload — Musk’s own Tesla roadster — into orbit around the sun.
SpaceX already has a contract to use the giant rocket to fly two unidentified individuals around the moon next year.