In BriefAt today's ISS R&D conference, SpaceX CEO Elon Musk sharedan update on the company's Falcon Heavy rocket, crewed missionplans, and hopes for building a base on the Moon. The Falcon Heavy

At the ISS R&D conference today, Elon Musk provided some much-anticipated updates on SpaceXs upcoming manned mission to the Red Planet, explaining that the trip hinges on the success of the companysFalcon Heavy.

Once it launches this year, the Falcon Heavywill be the most powerful operational rocket in the world. It will be able to lift more than 54 metric tons (119,000 lbs), which is twice the payload of the Delta IV Heavy at one-third the cost.

Developing the rocket wasnteasy. In fact, Musk says it was way, way more difficult than SpaceX originally anticipated.

[Falcon Heavy] requires the simultaneous ignition of 27 orbit class rockets, he explained. Because of this, Musk says there is a lot of risk associated with Falcon Heavy, which is why he is setting the bar for success rather low for initial launches: Theres a real good chance that it does not make it to orbit. I hope it gets far enough away from the launch pad that it does not cause pad damage I would consider that a win.

Problems with initial launches wont be due to any inherent flaws with the rocket itself, however; theyre just part of the process. Falcon Heavys going to be a great vehicle. [There] just isnt a lot you can test on the ground, Musk noted.

SpaceX has experienced a fair share of (fiery) failuresin the past, and the potential for problems with early Falcon Heavy launches had the SpaceX CEO joking about the characterof the crew members aboard the first manned missions:No question, whoevers on the first flight brave. Brave.

Other brave SpaceX explorers will eventually be able to enjoy a trip aboard the companysCrew Dragon, also known as Dragon 2. Thus far, the Dragon spacecraft has only been used to transport cargo, but the design is being modified to support crewed mission. In fact, the Dragon 2 could even eventually carry Musk, who replied, I would like to at some point. Assuming things work out, yeah, maybe in three or four years, when asked whether hed like to take a ride to the International Space Station (ISS) and back aboard the craft.

Also in the works for the Crew Dragon are orbital launches and testing of its automatic docking abilities. Currently, in order for the Dragon to attach to the ISS, the space stations robotic arm has to be used. Not of much importance, according to a comment by Musk, is refining the Dragons 2 purposive landing capability (i.e., descending using retrorockets vs. a parachute) as he claims its no longer a requirement for landing on Mars.

The real public excitement lies beyond the ISS and Mars missions, though, according to Musk. If you want to get the public real fired up, we gotta have a base on the Moon. Having some permanent presence on another heavenly body, he said. Thats the continuance of the dream of Apollo.

Some of the biggest players already in the race to build a Moon base hail from China and Europe, and their respective space agencies have announced that they are engaging in international collaboration to realize a Moon Village vision. Whether Musk will beat them to it remains to be seen.

This trickle of small updates will do little to pacify those eager for more details on Musks mission to Mars. That information is likely to arrive in September in the form of a revision to his detailed plan for making humanity a multi-planetary species. The efforts of SpaceX are now more vital than ever, given NASAs recent admissionthatthey wont be the ones to get us to the Red Planet,but perhaps the plan will include the announcement of a NASA/SpaceX collaboration?

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Elon Musk Just Shared an Update on SpaceX's Upcoming Manned Mars Mission - Futurism