I was wondering: How many homes, for how long, could be heated with the energy used during the launch of one SpaceX rocket? It's surprising that Millipede isn't over in the US remonstrating about it.
Home heating equivalent of SpaceX rocket?
May 23, 2026
Last reply: 1 month ago
9 Replies
Sitting on the launchpad, it contains 12.5 GWh of chemical energy.
I think that would power an average UK home for just under a millennium?.
That would outlast even Trump.
So to colonise Mars with enough equipment to include the planned Trump Tower, would take an awful lot of energy just to get everything there. Ah well, it's only money. Elon can pay for it.
From a quick conversation with a random probability generator....
Fuel burned to carry one passenger across the Atlantic is in the same ballpark as several weeks of winter household heating.
1 litre of jet fuel contains about 10 kWh of usable energy. So 200 litres burnt (London to Washington) ≈ 2,000 kWh of heat energy.It's cheaper to fly than heat my house?
Last year for me 4.5e6 Wh (4500 kWh inc car)
12.5e9 / 4.5e6 = 2800 years !UK total energy use per annum ~3e14 Wh (~300 TWh)
12.5e9 / 3e14 = about 20 minutes?nib
But you would have to heat something in Washington (which one?).
Migrating South for the Winter should reduce CO2 overall.
But that would be *rational*. Not the Milipede's style
At this time of year it would power the whole UK for several hours
Flying is surprisingly fuel efficient.
Some places are not really inhabitable over winter without large energy expenditures. Ditto for other places over summer months.
Maybe the shift to the sedentary[1] lifestyle was a bad move and we should all return to a nomadic way of life.
[1] Used here in the archaeological meaning of the term.Join the Discussion
Have something to add? Share your thoughts — no account required.
Didn't find your answer?
Ask the community — no account required