Post by Admin on Feb 9, 2018 9:09:41 GMT -7
Starman is on his Way to Mars...
Elon Musk launched a Tesla Roadster into orbit as a test payload for his heavy lift Falcon rocket on Tuesday February 6th, 2018. Is he ahead of his time or just a self promoter?
Normally concrete or steel blocks are used for test payloads. Elin Musk decided to use a Tesla Roadster with a dummy dressed in a Space X suit. The car was outfitted with cameras so photos from space could be captured. Musk owns both Space X and Tesla so some pundits saw putting a Tesla Roadster into orbit as a publicity stunt. Others derided it as space junk.
The car was successfully placed in an elliptical orbit around the sun and out to Mars. The automobile should remain in orbit for tens of thousands of years but it will deteriorate physically because of the extreme temperatures and solar radiation in space. The intense UV light will eat the tires, fade the paint and crack all plastic surfaces. The signal was "lost" so live photos of the Tesla Roadster are no longer available.
Elin Musk may turn out to be a visionary. His Starman driven roadster could capture the public's imagination far better than concrete blocks or robotic spacecraft. Musk intends to send freight and eventually humans to Mars by 2024. Currently it takes many months to make the 400 million mile journey. Musk plans on bringing that time frame down to 30 days eventually. Time will judge Elon Musk and his launching of Starman into orbit. Six years is not a long time to wait.
All photos are courtesy of Space X.
All photos are courtesy of Space X.