SpaceX Sends a Red Tesla Roadster Into Space With David Bowie’s ‘Space Oddity’ on an Endless Loop

With the historic launch and test flight of the SpaceX Falcon Heavy on February 6, 2018, Elon Musk sent a red Tesla Roadster into space with the David Bowie song “Space Oddity” playing on the stereo in an endless loop, the graphic display reading “Don’t Panic” and a fully astronautical attired “Starman” behind the wheel, all in a less than subtle nod to the opening scene of the 1981 cult classic animated film Heavy Metal.

This is Major Tom to Ground Control
I’m stepping through the door
And I’m floating in a most peculiar way
And the stars look very different today
For here
Am I sitting in a tin can
Far above the world
Planet Earth is blue
And there’s nothing I can do – Space Oddity

The floating Roadster had been depicted in the excellent animation describing the events of the launch, but the reality of a live stream showing a car floating in space towards Mars, endlessly playing David Bowie with a reassuring iconic message from The Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy and a Starman watching over it all, is something of which legends are made.

There’s a starman waiting in the sky
He’d like to come and meet us
But he thinks he’d blow our minds
There’s a starman waiting in the sky
He’s told us not to blow it
Cause he knows it’s all worthwhile – Starman“

 

Starman in Red Roadster

A post shared by Elon Musk (@elonmusk) on Feb 4, 2018 at 9:50pm PST

 

Printed on the circuit board of a car in deep space

A post shared by Elon Musk (@elonmusk) on Feb 6, 2018 at 2:40pm PST

Incredible footage from SpaceX showing the historic launch of the Falcon Heavy on February 6, 2018.

Here’s stunning footage of the side boosters as they return to Earth with astounding pinpoint accuracy, just as it was depicted in the animation.

 

Flight profile #FalconHeavy #SpaceX

A post shared by Elon Musk (@elonmusk) on Feb 6, 2018 at 8:42am PST