Lotus in space.

[Bombay Racing Green]

SpaceX successfully launched a Gen 1 Tesla Roadster (as a test payload) on it?s mission to Mars yesterday. Nice to see a little bit of Hethel hardware is in space. Fly Lotus!

[vincereynard]

With Bowie on a loop and "DON'T PANIC" on the visual display.

What will Aliens make of that?

[JonB]

Gotta say, the boy has some class.

[john.p.clegg]

Let's just hope he's got his tracking right.....

John

[billwill]

If you want to watch this incredible rocket launch, its on the second video on:
http://www.spacex.com/webcast

[mbell]

If you want to watch this incredible rocket launch, its on the second video on:
http://www.spacex.com/webcast

I find the landing more amazing. The two "booster's" coming down and landing side by side at almost the exact same time nearly took my breath away. Looked liked something out of a film not real life!

[john.p.clegg]

Correct,it was....

John

[pcarew]

This is probably old news for most of you, but I hadn't fully grasped the closeness between Tesla and Lotus (particularly the Roadster) until I read this:
https://www.tesla.com/en_IE/blog/lotus-position

[elanfan1]

I wonder what state the car might be in after sometime in space. Will the extreme cold wreck it, cosmic radiation doubtless would have an effect. Probably be amazing if it was recovered a few centuries later if it didn't fall apart.

[rgh0]

It a Lotus - it falls apart parked in a garage after a few years. In space how long will it last

cheers
Rohan

[Bud English]

Paint micro blisters won't be a problem. Not much moisture out there.

There is the oil or grease question for the suspension lube.

[JonB]

I think it is unlikely to be a complete car:

• Lithium batteries not safe in a vacuum?
• Suspension position looks correct despite the car not standing on the ground
• Etc, really....

My bet is it may be Elon's old car but with much of the mechanics stripped out. Anyone who thinks they are going to snag it in 200 years and take it for a spin on Mars is going to be disappointed. It's a shell, basically.

Still, what a PR coup.

@Rohan: it's a battery powered Elise (more or less), which as far as I remember is very reliable. Well, mine was anyway!

Interesting factoid: Richard Rackham, who designed the Elise chassis, said in a documentary about the making of the Elise that he is a descendant of John "Calico Jack" Rackham, a famous pirate whose claim to fame is that he designed (and flew) the Jolly Roger.

[nmauduit]

Interesting factoid: Richard Rackham, who designed the Elise chassis, said in a documentary about the making of the Elise that he is a descendant of John "Calico Jack" Rackham, a famous pirate whose claim to fame is that he designed (and flew) the Jolly Roger.

will there be an underwater version ?

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Red_Rackham%27s_Treasure

Red Rackham's Treasure

red-rackham-streasure.jpg (100.41 KiB) Viewed 1169 times

[Davidb]

Craigslist advt 2055:

"Tesla/Lotus sports car, true mileage unknown, one owner, batteries not included, buyer collects, sure to be a classic in the future".

[billwill]

Not mileage unknown, its now done ten-of-millions of miles.