The Falcon Heavy rose from the same launch pad used by NASA nearly 50 years ago to send men to the moon - accompanied to the sounds of David Bowie's Space Oddity.
50年前,肯尼迪航空中心发射的火箭首次将人类送上了月球,今天它又将“重型猎鹰”,送上了太空。“重型猎鹰”的首次飞行将搭载马斯克的一辆红色特斯拉Roadster跑车,车上还会播放1969年戴维·鲍伊的经典歌曲《太空怪人》。
With liftoff, the 60m Heavy became the most powerful rocket in use today, doubling the liftoff punch of its closest competitor.
随着猎鹰重型火箭发射成功,这个价值6千万欧元的大家伙现已成为美国最强的火箭,它的运力是其竞争对手的两倍。
The three boosters and 27 engines roared to life at Kennedy Space Center, as thousands jammed surrounding beaches, bridges and roads to watch the rocket soar into space.
它包括三个助推器和27个引擎,上千人围在肯尼迪航天中心附近的海滩、桥梁以及公路上观看了这场发射。
Musk told reporters the company had done all it could to maximise success and he was at peace with whatever happens: success, "one big boom" or some other calamity.
SpaceX首席执行官马斯克告诉记者,公司已经做了最大努力来保证这次发射的成功,因此他对于“成功发射”、“爆炸”及其他可能出现的事件都会坦然接受并处理。
The longer the flight, he noted, the more the company would learn.
他说,飞行时间越长,得到的经验也就越多。
Tonight's launch attracted huge crowds not seen since NASA's last space shuttle flight seven years ago.
本次发射吸引了大量人群参观,7年来这还是首次。
Not counting Apollo moon buggies, the Roadster is the first automobile to speed right off the planet.
不算阿波罗登月车,特斯拉将是第一部在地球外的星球奔驰的汽车。