WASHINGTON (AP) - A high-tech entrepreneur has unveiled plans to launch the world’s most powerful rocket since man went to the moon.
The rocket could lift twice as much cargo into orbit as the soon-to-be-retired space shuttle.
Space Exploration Technology’s new rocket called Falcon Heavy is big enough to send cargo or even people out of Earth’s orbit to the moon, an asteroid or Mars. Only the long retired Saturn V rocket that sent men to the moon was bigger.
Space X president Elon Musk said Falcon Heavy will be far cheaper than government or private rockets. Launches are about $100 million each. The first launch is slotted for 2013 from California.
Potential customers are NASA, the military, other governments and satellite makers.
Musk founded PayPal and launches smaller rockets.
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