On February 6, 2018, SpaceX’s Falcon Heavy rocket, the most powerful operational rocket in the world, blasted off on its maiden voyage.
The Falcon Heavy can reportedly lift a mass equivalent to five double-decker buses (complete with passengers, luggage, and fuel) into orbit. The mega-rocket is designed to carry people and is part of Elon Musk’s plans for human space travel.
However, for its experimental debut mission in 2018, Musk chose a much lighter load: his old cherry-red Tesla Roadster. A space-suited mannequin nicknamed “Starman” was strapped into the driver’s seat, and the car’s radio was set to play David Bowie’s “Life on Mars” on repeat. The rocket overshot its intended orbit of Mars, but the ambitious launch generated headlines across the world.