SpaceX's next big rocket, the Falcon Heavy.

「獵鷹重型」的發射

This vehicle can create more than five million pounds

這架火箭在起飛時能夠產生超過五百萬磅的推力，

of thrust at liftoff, and is capable of putting

同時，也能在近地軌道

around 140,000 pounds into lower Earth orbit.

加上大約十四萬磅的質量

That's more than twice the weight that any other rocket

這是目前世上所有其他火箭

currently on the market can carry.

乘載重量限制的兩倍以上

So right now, the Falcon Heavy holds the title

因此，目前「獵鷹重型」被封為

for the most powerful rocket in the world.

地表最強火箭

- I'm very excited about this launch because

- 我對這次的發射感到非常興奮

I think this is gonna really show

因為我認為這代表

that we can do giant rockets again.

人類能夠重新開始投入巨型火箭

Most space organizations, government or commercial,

大部分的太空機構、政府或企業

have set their sights too low.

都把眼光放得太低

They've really built relatively small rockets.

他們之前都建造較小型的火箭

And Falcon Heavy is the first time

「獵鷹重型」可以說是

that there's something that's arguably

第一架超重型火箭

even in the super heavy class or somewhere between

或者保守一點

heavy and super heavy:

介於重型與超重型之間

showing that you can launch a giant rocket

這展現的是，發射一架巨型火箭

and have it be commercially viable,

在商業上可以是可行的，

carry satellites, potentially carry people.

它能夠承載衛星，將來或許也能載人

Falcon Heavy is capable of actually taking

「獵鷹重型」其實能夠達成

a dragon mission of taking people around the moon.

載人環繞月球這種驚人的任務

- Is there any update on that, by the way?

- 關於那點，目前有沒有什麼最新消息？

- Not yet. - Not yet.

- 還沒 - 這樣啊

- We're sort of debating whether to do that

- 我們還在討論這項任務究竟

on Falcon Heavy or BFR (big f***ing rocket) , it will all sort of depend on

應該使用「獵鷹重型」或是 BFR (他 x 的超大火箭) ，這要看

how well the BFR development's going, as to

BFR 目前的進展，還有

whether we focus on BFR for deep space human flight

究竟深度太空旅遊應該使用 BFR

or whether we do that on Falcon Heavy.

還是「獵鷹重型」

- What do you see has been the biggest challenge

- 您認為讓這架火箭起飛

for making this rocket fly?

最大的困難是什麼？

- The biggest challenge of getting to the launch pad

- 將「獵鷹重型」送到發射台前最大的挑戰是

has been that we had to completely redesign the center core.

我們必須重新設計整個中央核心

The load going through the center core is

因為穿越這火箭中央核心的能量

much greater than would normally go through

比「獵鷹 9 號」在正常情況下

a Falcon 9 rocket.

要大上許多

Each of the side boosters is putting in

他所有的助推火箭都將

half a million pounds of thrust into the center core.

50 萬磅的推力送進中央核心中

So you have an incremental million pounds of force

所以就有一波又一波數百萬磅的力

going through that center core,

穿過那裡，

which means we had to really redesign

意思就是，我們真的必須重新設計

almost the entire stage.

火箭的每一節

All the way through the inner stage

直到最上節

had to be redesigned to strengthen it.

都要重新設計、加強

- Okay, well I have one more question,

- 好的，我還有一個問題：

but I want to know what you're most excited about

我想知道，明天發射這架火箭時

when you've launched this rocket by tomorrow.

什麼會讓您最興奮

- I'll be really proud of the SpaceX team

- 我會以整個 SpaceX 團隊為榮

for having accomplished this incredible task.

因為他們完成了一項如此驚人的工作

And hopefully we inspire the public

或許我們也能重燃大眾

to get excited about space again.

對外太空的熱情

But it's not just the public

但不只大眾

getting excited about the Falcon Heavy.

對「獵鷹重型」的發射感到非常期待

Some customers, like the Planetary Society,

有些 SpaceX 的客戶，例如行星學會

are planning on using Falcon Heavy for their next flights,

打算下訂「獵鷹巨型」作為日後的使用

hoping that a successful test launch

他們希望這次試射的成功

will spell success for their missions as well.

也能為他們日後的任務帶來成功的結果

- We are tied to SpaceX.

- 我們的未來依附在 SpaceX 上

We wish us the best today.

我們希望今天能非常順利

SpaceX is really visionary, but it really is

SpaceX 很有遠見，

a fantastic idea.

這真的是一個很棒的構想

Rockets should be like airplanes

火箭應該和飛機一樣

where you don't throw them away,

不應該被丟掉，

you use them and then reuse them.

應該回收、重複使用

So it's visionary.

所以這很有遠見

- Now if everything goes well today,

- 如果今天一切進行順利，

how will it feel to see that Falcon Heavy soar?

目睹「獵鷹重型」翱翔會是什麼感受？

- Oh it'll be great.

- 噢，那會非常棒

So, we flew the first LightSail almost two years ago,

我們將近兩年前發射了太陽帆飛船，

and it's a thrill.

那真的讓人非常興奮

We're very excited about it.

我們非常期待這次的試射

The idea is to democratize space,

我們希望能夠讓所有人能夠近用太空，

to lower the cost of getting to many destinations

降低到太陽系各個角落

in our solar system.

的成本

The reason you do this everybody,

之所以這麼做，

the reason the Society does this,

本學會之所以這麼做的原因，

there are two questions, Loren, that we have all asked:

是因為我們都曾問過這兩個問題：

Where did we come from?

人類是從何而來？

How'd we all get here, where did we come from?

我們是怎麼來到地球的，我們是從哪裡來的？

And are we alone in the universe?

我們在宇宙中是孤獨的嗎？

And if you want to answer those two questions,

如果你想要回答這兩個問題，

you have to explore space.

那麼你就必須探索太空

We're finally here at NASA's press site.

我們終於來到 NASA 的記者會現場

After all of the hype,

經過了這麼多年的炒作

after so many years of waiting, and it is intense.

和等待，現場氣氛十分浮躁

I've been to a couple of launches here before,

之前幾次在這裡發射火箭時，我也有來

but I've never seen it this packed.

可是我從來沒在這裡看過這麼多人

Just getting in here today, there was a huge traffic jam.

今天來這裡的路上大塞車

And the vibe here?

至於現場的氣氛呢？

Everybody is super anxious.

大家都很焦躁

We're really ready to see this thing get off the ground.

我們都迫不急待想看這架火箭離地

Originally the launch was set for 1:30 p.m. Eastern.

原本發射時間預計是北美東部時間下午一點半

Then it got pushed back to two.

可是後來延後到兩點

Then 2:20, then 2:50.

接這又延後到 2:20、2:50

It turned out upper level winds in the area

原來周圍地區的上層風太強了，

were too high for flight,

會影響發射，

and SpaceX was trying to wait for them to die down.

SpaceX 在等風轉弱

People started worrying that they'd have to

人們開始擔心是不是

come back the next day.

明天才有辦法發射

So we've all been on edge today,

我們今天整天都很緊張

SpaceX kept pushing the launch time

SpaceX 一直不斷延後

back, and back, and back.

發射時間

Now we have a new T-minus zero which is 3:45 p.m.,

我們現在有了新的火箭發射時間，下午 3:45

but our launch window only lasts until four p.m.

可是最晚要在下午四點前完成發射

However, the rocket is loaded with propellant,

然而，目前火箭內部已經裝滿燃料

so I think it might actually go up today.

所以今天應該可以順利發射

- The center core locks look complete.

- 中央核心全面安全鎖定

- Tropic lower has ended,

- 熱帶低氣流已經散去

Strombeck's at 88.2 degrees.

Strombeck 在 88.2° 方向待命

- Falcon Heavy gas loads are complete

- 「獵鷹重型」燃料備齊了

and Heavy is configured for flight.

完成起飛設定

- T-minus 15, stand by for general count.

- 距離發射時間 15 秒，開始倒數

- Launch to red code.

- 進入紅色警戒

- Ten, nine, eight.

- 十、九、八

- Side base to ignition.

- 基地兩側準備點燃火箭

- Six, five, four, three,

- 六、五、四、三

two, one, zero, ignition.

二、一、零，點燃

- Oh my god.

- 喔天啊

- Ooh, it's hitting us.

- 噢，開始有反作用力了

Wow, that is a beast.

- 天啊，太壯觀了

Oh my god, you feel it.

- 你可以感受到很強的反作用力

We can still see it clear as day.

我們還是可以看得很清楚

It's supersonic, b*tches.

這就是他 x 的超音速

Oh my god.

喔天啊

I'm gonna go.

我要先去旁邊了

- I'm gonna keep rolling.

- 我要再多拍一些

- Hold on Loren, we're gonna go together.

- Loren 等等，我們一起過去

- Side boosters begin.

- 推助火箭開始分離

The center.

這是目前中心的狀況

Side boosters' landing legs are deployed.

推著火箭準備降落

- And the Falcon has landed.

- 「獵鷹」著地

- We're gonna hear six sonic booms.

- 接著會有六次聲爆

Oh my god.

哈哈哈你看看他

Oh, man.

喔，天啊