Though there has been some confusion, it looks like when SpaceX’s Falcon Heavy finally launches early next year, it will carry arguably the nerdiest payload in human history. According to Elon Musk, the payload for the first Heavy launch might be Musk’s midnight cherry Tesla roadster, complete with a copy of The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy in the glovebox, a towel, a sign that says “Don’t Panic,” and a sound system blaring David Bowie’s “Space Oddity.” Top that, Bezos.
When asked on Twitter (by many angry space journalists and scientists) exactly why the launch payload would be his car, Musk tweeted, “I love the thought of a car drifting apparently endlessly through space and perhaps being discovered by an alien race millions of years in the future.” We have to admit, we love that idea too. Unless everything blows up on the same launchpad that saw the launch of what would land the first humans on the Moon. Then the car would be drifting for a significantly shorter amount of time. Through our atmosphere. As debris.
Payload will be my midnight cherry Tesla Roadster playing Space Oddity. Destination is Mars orbit. Will be in deep space for a billion years or so if it doesn’t blow up on ascent.
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) December 2, 2017
Also on the show today, Dan and I have an update on how Tesla is helping people recover in Puerto Rico, more info on The Boring Company’s plans for subterranean travel in LA, and we witness a gauntlet thrown down by Boeing.
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What do you think of this week’s top stories? What else would you like to see us discuss on Muskwatch? Let us know in the comments below!
WHAT ELSE IS ELON MUSK UP TO?
- SpaceX and Uber are teaming up to make flying cars
- This human-controlled robot is like IRLÂ Pacific Rim
- SpaceX wants to make a helpful version of Skynet
