He did it. The crazy S.O.B. did it. Elon Musk and his incredible team of engineers at SpaceX successfully launched Falcon Heavy, the biggest, most powerful rocket in the world, into space, while safely landing all three of its rocket boosters back on Earth so they can be reused, in a stunning medley of science and imagination. Without exaggeration, it was one of the most amazing feats in the history of mankind, and one day it might very well prove to have been one of the greatest, most important developments in the journey beyond our home world into the deep cosmos outside of solar system. It was truly a breathtaking endeavor.
…one that also included launching a cherry red roadster manned by a spacesuit-clad mannequin named Starman, who will travel for hundreds of millions of years with a copy of Isaac Asmiov’s Foundation series, Douglas Adams’Â Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy’s motto “Don’t Panic” on the dashboard, and David Bowie’s “Life on Mars” blaring. So in addition to being one of the most meaningful scientific achievements in history, it was simultaneously also one of the geekiest and coolest thing ever done. (Not convinced? The below image is 100% real.)
Considering everything that Falcon Heavy accomplished and the images it produced, people from all walks of life responded with a range of emotions, from total awe and sincere appreciation, to newfound hope for the future, to pure unadulterated glee. (That said, there were also a few who got a little worried over the whole thing, mostly because they have been paying attention to how super villains in movies and comics usually get their starts.)
To celebrate this monumental occasion, we rounded up some of our favorite memes, reactions, and images the internet had to offer.
Congratulations @elonmusk and #SpaceX – how I wish Douglas Adams were alive to see “Don’t Panic†in large friendly letters on the Tesla That was a classy addition.
— Stephen Fry (@stephenfry) February 6, 2018
#FalconHeavy boosters landing, pretty much as advertised in the early promotional video. Cool! @SpaceX @elonmusk pic.twitter.com/Me13Mhrqn1
— ð”¸ð•¤ð•¥ð•£ð• ðŸ˜ð”¾ð•ð•–𕟠🧑â€ðŸš€ (@Astro0Glen) February 7, 2018
What an incredible gif. #Starman #FalconHeavy #SpaceX #Tesla pic.twitter.com/w2M4zZPZjG
— Taraustralis (@Taraustralis) February 7, 2018
This is one of the most epic videos you'll see for a while 😮 #FalconHeavy #SpaceX pic.twitter.com/jglEvil372
— Today's Apes In Space (@Apesinspaceco) February 7, 2018
This was unlike anything I've ever seen before: Congratulations @elonmusk and the @SpaceX team. I'll let my pictures of the #SpaceX #FalconHeavy speak for themselves.
Wow. Just, wow.
(Pics by me / @WeReportSpace) pic.twitter.com/w6IW5SRmGw
— Michael Seeley (@Mike_Seeley) February 6, 2018
https://twitter.com/shannonmstirone/status/960995774526976000
https://twitter.com/Lauzirika/status/960986604998463491
https://twitter.com/te_pickering/status/961080240389832706
https://twitter.com/NinetyFive_UK/status/961153972563300355
This was one of the most fantastic, spirited and mind blowing things I ever got to see. Elon Musk and his space people are damn wizards!pic.twitter.com/bTudqhjMJ9 #SpaceX
— Kabir Taneja (@KabirTaneja) February 7, 2018
https://twitter.com/MichaelGalanin/status/961070254620332032
No this isn’t old footage. This is footage from last night of a space CAR! #SpaceX launched its #FalconHeavy with #Starman and a red #Tesla #Roadster from #Florida Tuesday afternoon and it was still close enough to be seen last night over #SoCal. #OrangeCounty #Wow(📸: @abc7la ) pic.twitter.com/mFfGEiXnJ7
— The2OC (@The2OC) February 7, 2018
https://twitter.com/sarahmldnenbr/status/961227420211687424
We’re not sure these next ones count as some of the “best” reactions, but in case future historians are reading this and want to know how absurd life was in 2018, here’s a pretty good barometer:
It’s a sweet time to be alive 🚀#FalconHeavy #SpaceX pic.twitter.com/xjXu50gVDw
— Hostess Snacks (@Hostess_Snacks) February 7, 2018
Congratulations to #SpaceX on successful launch of #FalconHeavy! pic.twitter.com/dlwsv9wPtV
— World of Tanks Blitz (@WoTBlitz) February 7, 2018
NO! We are not letting something this amazing be co-opted by brands to sell stupid snacks or games. Back to the hopeful stuff!
I can’t stop thinking about yesterday’s #SpaceX launch & how it delightfully took over social media.
In today’s climate, where hope has been replaced with fear & blame has replaced accountability, I’m glad we could all take a minute to stare at the heavens and embrace discovery.
— Justin Stone (@DisnyRunr24) February 7, 2018
Watching my first LAUNCH and it was not only amazing but HISTORIC as in once of a lifetime event.#CapeCanaveral #FalconHeavy #SpaceX #NASA #lifeachievment pic.twitter.com/sN1qCnXqhp
— Josh Barrett (@jt_barrett23) February 7, 2018
There's an astronaut named after a David Bowie song driving an electric car named after neglected scientist orbiting the Earth right now.
No science fiction author could have envisioned such a scenario. Earthlings you never cease to amaze me.#SpaceX #Starman— berty ashley (@bertyashley) February 7, 2018
i don't know much about space or space travel. I'm not really interested either. But events like the #SpaceX give me hope that man will never stop exploring. Mars might be a dead rock, but we have to go there. Why? Because it's next.
— N. Ó Paloff (@n_paloff) February 7, 2018
https://twitter.com/Josiahx/status/961067448609931264
Only those who will risk going too far can possibly find out how far one can go.
-T.S. Eliot #ElonMusk #SpaceX #FalconHeavy pic.twitter.com/bL6hHBmjUJ— TheWriteReads (@The_WriteReads) February 7, 2018
Of course, there’s nothing wrong with having a little fun with this. We’d have been disappointed if we didn’t get a bunch of hilarious jokes and GIFs from the whole ordeal.
https://twitter.com/jmdenisme/status/961205710968315904
Elon Musk Checks Washing For Missing Wallet Before Realising It Was In His Car https://t.co/1nj4ffW7hT #falconheavy #spacex
— The Betoota Advocate (@BetootaAdvocate) February 7, 2018
https://twitter.com/realDionPardo/status/961062133151739904
https://twitter.com/themattprov/status/961083390312280064
Haters gonna say it's photoshopped.#SpaceX pic.twitter.com/wshpLjvRm1
— ForHum (@FormulaHumor) February 7, 2018
the circle closes #SpaceX pic.twitter.com/rb7VleCGjH
— DefinitelyNotMoe5i (@Moe5i) February 7, 2018
🚀👩â€ðŸš€ @elonmusk waiting on the competition to catch up! 🥇ðŸ†ðŸ¾#falconheavy #spacex pic.twitter.com/gNksQjnwu6
— Chris Kitchens (@imchriskitchens) February 7, 2018
Bullshire Police are reporting #Starman for consideration of the question of prosecuting him for the offence of 'Excess Speed'.
Apparently.#SpaceX #Photoshop pic.twitter.com/mQWZKg4AZD
— Bullshire Police (@BullshirePolice) February 7, 2018
Thelma, Elon and Louise. @theage #FalconHeavy @elonmusk #SpaceX pic.twitter.com/H2bOXe6BpU
— MattGolding Cartoons (@GoldingCartoons) February 7, 2018
"I'm trippin balls here"
–@elonmusk #SpaceX #ElonMusk #FalconHeavy #Starman pic.twitter.com/8rWNkJ3UMO
— Kyle Gene Gary (@kookslamkyle) February 7, 2018
To reiterate, there is a small group of people who are just a little bit worried about an über-wealthy private citizen sending a freaking car to space. And we have to admit that if all of this were taking place at the start of a movie instead of in real life, we’d be pretty sure that the man behind the project would take a dark turn pretty soon. The Falcon Heavy launch could very well be the start of something great for humanity… or it could be the beginning of Emperor Elon Musk’s quest for world domination.
https://twitter.com/helfitzgerald/status/961013725498048519
https://twitter.com/Inst_4_Studies/status/961227334513840128
All I'm saying is, I would not be surprised if Elon Musk's space-car was a Transformer and part of a cartoonish plan for world domination.
— â›°ï¸ðŸ¦ˆ also on 🟦â˜ï¸ (@LordLandshark) February 7, 2018
@elonmusk That's not a dummy, that's the original Elon! Now his clone, Evil Elon, can continue his unrelentless march towards total world domination.
— Michael Kotlikov (@mkotlikov) February 7, 2018
https://twitter.com/jkassaps/status/960990918835924992
Elon Musk is a villain with an undersea lair sort of name. Just you wait.
— Louis Barfe (@AlanKelloggs) February 7, 2018
Elon Musk is every dystopian cyberpunk CEO who is revealed as the villain in the third act. Stop worshipping this dude ffs.
— Tom Johnson (@thattomjohnson) February 6, 2018
If all this is true, I'd welcome Elon Musk as an evil super-genuis bent on world domination… cause hes WAAAAY fucking cooler than what we've got now
— Freddy (@Freddy_Weber) February 7, 2018
What did you think of the launch? What was the best reaction you saw? Share your best thoughts, tweets, and images with us in the comments below.
Images: SpaceX
More Musktastic adventures!
- In case this weren’t enough, Elon Musk is opening a restaurant
- Giant mech racing is coming sooner than you think
- Introducing the world’s coolest rocket-powered toy car
