![](https://outrunchange.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/falcon-heave-6-public-domain.jpg?w=538)
SpaceX’s test of their three booster, 27 engine rocket was an astounding success. The three side-by-side Falcon 9 boosters worked perfectly together. The two side boosters successfully separated, which I think is the highlight of the test.
Both of the side boosters were recovered. See astounding photo above.
![](https://outrunchange.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/falcon-heavy-1-public-domain.jpg?w=538)
The payload was successfully lifted into the Van Allen radiation belt and continued to operate. Apparently that is a major milestone (my little brain doesn’t understand why that was a tremendous deal to NASA).
The payload has been lifted into a Mars transfer orbit and then was set for a journey into the asteroid belt.
The big deal there is proving a heavy payload can be lifted into a Mars orbit.
![](https://outrunchange.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/falcon-heave-2-public-domain.jpg?w=538)
The plan was to recover the center core on a drone recovery ship. Reportedly the core ran out of fuel and crashed into the sea next to the drone ship. Losing the core is a disappointment to SpaceX but that little failure is trivial to the overall success of proving the Falcon Heavy actually works!
![](https://outrunchange.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/falcon-heave-3-public-domain.jpg?w=538)
Oh yeah, about that payload. Nobody in their right mind would put a real payload on a dangerous proof-of-concept test flight. Who would ever dare risking a multimillion dollar satellite?
![](https://outrunchange.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/falcon-heave-4-public-domain.jpg?w=538)
Soooo, SpaceX put a Tesla roadster on the rocket and lofted it off on a centuries long orbit around the sun into the asteroid belt.
![](https://outrunchange.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/falcon-heavy-7-hi-res-public.jpg?w=538)
Why a car? To prove the Falcon Heavy can lift that much weight in a successful flight.
Why a Tesla? Just look at the fabulous PR it generated.
![](https://outrunchange.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/falcon-heave-5-public-domain.jpg?w=538)
What a fantastic time to be alive.
The future is so bright we all need to wear sunglasses.