Liftoff: Tesla Roadster Rockets into Space!

SpaceX launched its Falcon Heavy rocket into space on Tuesday carrying a Tesla Roadster as its payload on a journey that is designed to take it on a solar orbit close to Mars.

The cherry red Roadster, which is owned by Tesla Inc. and SpaceX CEO Elon Musk, played David Bowie’s “Space Oddity” through its sound system at takeoff. A mannequin, nicknamed “Starman,” wearing a spacesuit is in the driver’s seat. Powered by 27 Merlin engines in three booster rockets, the Falcon Heavy generated more than 5 million lbs of thrust at liftoff, which is equal to that of about 18 Boeing 747 jets.

Shortly after takeoff, the three reusable booster rockets separated from the second-stage module that is carrying the Roadster in its tip. The two side booster units landed back at Cape Canaveral in Florida. The third one was lost as it attempted to land off the coast on a drone ship.

The second-stage unit is powered by a single Merlin engine, which will be activated three times. After demonstrating its ability to insert satellites into geosynchronous orbit, the rocket is scheduled to circle the Earth for about six hours.

The final thrust will send Starman and the Roadster into deep space at a speed of about seven miles per second (25,200 mph). The so-called precessing elliptical orbit between Earth and Mars will take the rocket as far away as 280 million miles. Musk says the voyage could last indefinitely and should take the Roadster close to Mars in about six months.

Cameras mounted to the Roadster will record the journey. A video of the launch and live feed are available at the SpaceX website.