Elon Musk's Tesla Roadster goes for an endless drive around Mars

SpaceX's big new rocket Falcon Heavy blasted off Tuesday 6th February on its first test flight, carrying a red Tesla Roadster aiming for an endless road trip past Mars.

SpaceX's big new rocket Falcon Heavy blasted off Tuesday 6th February on its first test flight, carrying a red Tesla Roadster aiming for an endless road trip past Mars. (Photo| AP)

Updated on:

07 Feb 2018, 3:52 am

2 min read

The Falcon Heavy is a combination of three Falcon 9s, the rocket that the company uses to ship supplies to the International Space Station and lift satellites. The three boosters and 27 engines roared to life at Kennedy Space Center. (Photo| AP)

With liftoff, the Heavy became the most powerful rocket in use today, doubling the liftoff punch of its closest competitor. (Photo| AP)

Thousands watched from surrounding beaches, bridges and roads, jamming the highways in scenes unmatched since NASA's last space shuttle flight. (Photo| AP)

Millions more watched online, making it the second biggest livestream in YouTube history. (Photo| AP)

Two of the boosters— both recycled from previous launches — returned minutes later for simultaneous, side-by-side touchdowns on land at Cape Canaveral. (Photo| AP)

SpaceX chief executive Elon Musk told reporters that the third booster, brand new, slammed into the Atlantic at 300 mph and missed the floating landing platform, scattering shrapnel all over the deck and knocking out two engines. (Photo| AP)

Cameras mounted on the space car fed stunning video of the convertible floating high above the ocean with its driver, a space-suited mannequin, named 'Starman' after the Davie Bowie song. A sign on the dashboard read: 'Don't panic!' (Photo| AP)