By the numbers: Space X Heavy Rocket

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – The Space X Heavy Rocket poised and ready for takeoff could be America’s answer to once again launching American astronauts on American-made rockets.

Tuesday's launch is scheduled for 12:30 p.m. Houston time. The launch window closes at 3 p.m. Houston time.

Here's a by-the-numbers look at the rocket:

The Falcon Heavy is nearly:

  • 40 feet wide
  • 227 feet tall

While it can lift a lot of space stuff, it is heavy itself. It weighs:

  • 3,125,735 pounds

It has 3 engine cores

27 first-stage engines

2 boosters expected to safely return and land near the launch pad at Cape Canaveral.

3rd core is to land on a ship in the Atlantic Ocean.

All 3 are designed to be reusable.

27 engines will provide more than 5 million pounds of thrust. This will make it the world’s most powerful rocket in operation today.

0 astronauts will fly on this flight.

Instead of astronauts, Space X and Tesla CEO Elon Musk plans to launch his Red Roadster destined for the Red Planet.

3 cameras are attached to the car to provide “epic views.”