SpaceX’s Falcon Heavy launch was an incredible success — here are the best moments

By Lydia Ramsey From Business Insider

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Falcon Heavy taking off from Cape Canaveral, Florida.SpaceX via YouTube

SpaceX successfully launched its Falcon Heavy rocket into space on Tuesday.
So far, everything has gone according to plan — two of the three boosters have landed back in Cape Canaveral, Florida, and Elon Musk’s Tesla Roadster is headed toward Mars orbit.
Here are some of the best photos and moments from the launch.

We have liftoff.

SpaceX launched its Falcon Heavy rocket — the company’s biggest — into space on Tuesday.

Falcon Heavy left the Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Florida, at 3:45 p.m. ET after some initial delays. The rocket is carrying Elon Musk’s midnight-cherry-red Tesla Roadster out to Mars orbit, though its uppermost stage now has to coast through intense radiation fields around Earth’s magnetic Van Allen belt.

Falcon Heavy’s successful liftoff could disrupt the launch industry, as the system’s 134-foot-tall boosters can land themselves to be reused. Other rocket boosters on the market today are discarded after launch.

The event was a huge win for Musk and the future of private space exploration. Take a look at the highlights.

Amid cheers from SpaceX employees on the livestream, the rocket took off on a pillar of smoke.
Launch

The Falcon Heavy is propelled by 27 engines contained in three boosters — two on the sides and one in the center, under the payload.
SpaceX via YouTube

The three boosters gave the rocket a lot of power — they’re capable of generating more than 5 million pounds of thrust.
SpaceX via YouTube

After the ascent, the two side boosters detached from the rocket, flipped around, and headed back down toward Florida.
SpaceX via YouTube

The two bottom screens in this shot from the video stream show the boosters heading toward each landing site.
SpaceX via YouTube
A few seconds later, the reusable boosters slowed and hit the ground.
Booster land

They even stuck the landing.
SpaceX via YouTube
Later, the center booster detached, leaving the Tesla Roadster, complete with a dummy driver named Starman wearing a SpaceX spacesuit, speeding toward Mars orbit.
Starman

Three cameras are attached to the Roadster, showing views of Starman as he heads out into space. A sign on the dashboard reminds the dummy not to panic.
SpaceX via YouTube

SpaceX is broadcasting a live video feed from the Roadster if you’d like to see more of the journey.

You can rewatch the entire launch at web link below.

For more on this story and video go to: http://www.businessinsider.com/falcon-heavy-launch-delay-spacex-next-attempt-2018-2/#spacex-is-broadcasting-a-live-video-feed-from-the-roadster-if-youd-like-to-see-more-of-the-journey-10