[Loren] We've to see the launch of
SpaceX's next big , the Falcon Heavy.
This vehicle can create more than pounds
of thrust at liftoff, and is capable of putting
around 140,000 pounds into lower Earth orbit.
That's more than twice the weight that any other rocket
currently can carry.
So right now, the Falcon Heavy holds the title
for .

- I'm very excited about this launch because
I think this is gonna really show
that we can do rockets again.
Most space organizations, government or commercial,
have set their sights too low.
They've really built relatively small rockets.
And Heavy is the first time
that there's something that's arguably
even in the super heavy class or somewhere between
heavy and heavy.
Showing that you can launch a giant rocket
and have it be commercially viable,
satellites, potentially carry people,
Falcon Heavy actually taking
a dragon mission of taking people around the moon.

- Is there any update that, by the way? (laughs)

- Not yet.
- Not yet.

- We're sort of debating whether to do that
on Falcon Heavy or BFR (Big Falcon Rocket), it will all sort of depend
how well the BFR development's going as to
whether we focus BFR for deep space human flight
or whether we do that on Falcon Heavy.

- What do you see has been the biggest challenge
for fly?

- The biggest challenge of getting to the launch pad
has been that we had to fully redesign the center core.
The load going through the center core is
would normally go through
a Falcon 9 rocket.
Each of the side boosters is putting in
a half million pounds of thrust into the center core.
So you have an incremental pounds of force
going through that center core,
we had to really
almost the entire stage,
all the way through the inner stage
had to be redesigned to strengthen it.

- Okay, well I have one more question,
but I want to know what you're about
when you've launched this rocket by tomorrow.

- I'll be really proud of the SpaceX team
for having accomplished this incredible task.
And we inspire the public
to get excited about space again.

- [Loren] But it's not just the public
getting excited about the Falcon Heavy.
Some customers, like the Planetary Society,
are planning on using Falcon Heavy for their next flights,
hoping that a successful test launch
will spell success for their missions .

- We are tied to SpaceX.
We wish us the best today. (Loren laughs)
SpaceX is really , but it really is
.
Rockets should be like airplanes
where you don't throw them ,
you use them and then them.
So it's visionary.

- Now if everything goes well today,
how will it feel to see that Falcon Heavy soar?

- Oh it'll be great.
So, we flew the first LightSail almost two years ago,
and it's a thrill.
We're very it.
The idea is to democratize space,
to lower the cost of getting to many destinations
in our solar system.
The reason you do this everybody,
the reason the society does this,
there are two questions, Loren, that we have all asked:
Where ?
How'd we all get here, where did we come from?
And in the universe?
And if you want to answer those two questions,
you have to explore .

(upbeat music)
- We're finally here at NASA's press site.
of the hype,
after so many years of waiting, and it is intense.
I've been to a couple of launches here before,
but I've it this packed.
Just getting in here today, there was a huge traffic jam.
And the here?
Everybody is super anxious,
we're really ready to see this thing .
Originally the launch was set for 1:30 p.m. Eastern.
Then it got pushed back to two.
Then 2:20, then 2:50.
It turned out upper level winds in the area
were for flight,
and SpaceX was trying to wait for them to die down.
that they'd have to
come back the next day.
So we've all been edge today,
SpaceX kept pushing the launch time
back, and back, and back.
Now we have a new T-minus zero is 3:45 p.m.,
but our launch window only lasts until four p.m.
However, the with propellant,
so I think it might actually go up today.

- [Man] The center core locks look complete.
- [Woman] Tropic lower has ended,
Strombeck's at 88.2 degrees.
- [Man] Falcon Heavy gas loads are complete
and Heavy is configured for .
- [Woman] T-minus 15, stand by for general count.
(crowd cheers and applauds)
- [Man] Launch to red code.
- [Woman] 10, nine, eight.
- [Man] Side base to ignition. (crowd counts down)
- [Woman] Six, five, four, three,
two, one, zero, ignition.
- [Loren] Oh my god. (crowd cheers)
- [Man] Holy shit.
- Ooh, it's hitting us.
Wow, that is a beast. (rocket roars)
Oh my god, you feel it.
(rocket roars)
Oh my god.
We can still see it clear as day.
It's , bitches.
Oh my god.
I'm gonna go.

- [Man] I'm gonna keep rolling.
Hold on Loren, we're gonna go together.

- [Man] Side boosters begin.
(crowd yells and cheers)
The center.
Side boosters' landing legs are deployed.
(crowd yells and cheers)

- [Woman] And the .
- We're gonna hear six sonic booms.
(yells and laughs)
Oh my god. (laughs)
Oh, man.