On Tuesday 6 February, Elon Musk’s SpaceX corporation successfully launched the Falcon Heavy rocket into space, making history as the first private company, rather than a government agency, to launch such a powerful rocket into space.
The launch took place from the Kennedy Space Station and two of three booster rockets returned to land safely in Florida, at Cape Canaveral. The third crashed into the sea 90m from the drone ship on which it was meant to land.
Still, the launch was successful and its media value was skillfully enhanced by launch of Elon Musk’s own Tesla Roadster into space, from inside the rocket’s cone.
The vehicle is now joyriding through the Milky Way with a dummy known as Starman, wearing a SpaceX spacesuit, behind the wheel of the sports car. The radio is set to play David Bowie ‘s “Space Oddessy” on repeat for as long as it remains functional and other quirky touches include the “Made on Earth by Humans” printed on a circuit board and a “Don’t Panic” message on the dashboard.
I really like this starman.gif sequence I just screengrabbed — the Moon makes a little appearance at lower left and right pic.twitter.com/EEO0ViL9ET
— Emily Lakdawalla (@elakdawalla) February 7, 2018
The original plan was for the car to launch into the orbit of Mars but the was overshot and now the roadster is heading for the asteroid belt…
Third burn successful. Exceeded Mars orbit and kept going to the Asteroid Belt. pic.twitter.com/bKhRN73WHF
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) February 7, 2018
Some related humour from Twitter…
Ok, who leaked my selfie!? https://t.co/fYKXbix8jw
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) February 6, 2018
For Sale or Trade:
Lightly used Tesla Roadster. Original owner. Loaded. 92 million miles.
$50k OBO
(you are responsible for pickup) pic.twitter.com/Z9iDiW57ZC— Rev. Robert R. Ballecer, SJ (@padresj) February 7, 2018
hey guys, remember that star trek voyager episode they found a car floating in space… #SpaceX #Tesla #SpaceNerd #BoldlyGoing pic.twitter.com/N0vxcygoyF
— Matt The Gundam Guy (@Kenetor) February 6, 2018
oh so when elon musk launches a car into space it’s “history-making” but when i launch my car backwards into a parking cone i’m “a bad driver” and “need to get my eyes checked”
— Dami Lee (@dami_lee) February 6, 2018
*Google Maps voice*
“Turn right”#SpaceX pic.twitter.com/8tbeSOSfgi
— J.E. Skeets (@jeskeets) February 6, 2018
Henry Ford: “I will put a car in every garage.”@elonmusk: “Hold my beer.”#FalconHeavy pic.twitter.com/uMqlMNwK8Q
— Mark Rendle ❄ (@markrendle) February 6, 2018
First car to leave earth is a Tesla Roadster! Well played @elonmusk @Tesla @SpaceX #FalconHeavy #SpaceX #DontPanic pic.twitter.com/31OeiJiGgW
— Malte M. Boettcher (@MalteMB) February 6, 2018
Ticket’s in the post mate… 😉 #AnywhereAnytime #WAPoliceForce #FalconHeavy pic.twitter.com/VTWyC34Rx7
— WA Police Force (@WA_Police) February 7, 2018
Read all about our test drive of a Tesla Model X in the Land Down Under int he February issue of Leisure Wheels magazine, in store now.