Elon Musk rocket successfully launched

Elon Musk has just launched his new rocket, the Falcon Heavy, from the Kennedy Space Center in Florida.

The mammoth vehicle ‑ the most powerful since the shuttle system ‑ lifted clear of its pad without incident to soar high over the Atlantic Ocean.

It was billed as a risky test flight in advance of the lift‑off.

The SpaceX CEO said the challenges of developing the new rocket meant the chances of a successful first outing might be only 50‑50.

With this debut, the Falcon Heavy aims to become the most capable launch vehicle available.

It is designed to deliver a maximum payload to low‑Earth orbit of 64 tonnes ‑ the equivalent of putting five London double‑decker buses in space.

Source: BBC