--- description: The Elon Musk-run SpaceX's Falcon Heavy rocket carried a red Tesla Roadster into space. And it had cameras aboard. title: The Falcon Heavy Rocket Shot a Tesla Into Outer Space. And It Had Cameras Aboard image: https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/bltb838c2ddc6a813aa/6988fadf0a4a22ac8d9d1a8c/spacex-falcon-heavy-tesla-roadster-elon-musk.png?branch=production&width=3840&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=16:9 ---  * [Science](/section/science/) ## Science Update your preferences in [Account Settings](/account/preferences/) Close * [Space](/tag/space/) ## Space Update your preferences in [Account Settings](/account/preferences/) Close # The Falcon Heavy Rocket Shot a Tesla Into Outer Space. And It Had Cameras Aboard by [Aric Jenkins](/author/aric-jenkins/) ## Aric Jenkins Update your preferences in [Account Settings](/account/preferences/) Close Feb 7, 2018 3:47 PM CUT  spacex falcon heavy tesla roadster elon musk spacex falcon heavy tesla roadster elon muskSpaceX by [Aric Jenkins](/author/aric-jenkins/) ## Aric Jenkins Update your preferences in [Account Settings](/account/preferences/) Close Feb 7, 2018 3:47 PM CUT [Elon Musk](http://time.com/money/5136385/elon-musk-net-worth-double/ "undefined")‘s private spacefaring company SpaceX had a [milestone rocket launch](http://time.com/5133813/elon-musk-spacex-falcon-heavy-launch/ "undefined") Tuesday, making its inaugural Falcon Heavy flight with a special payload: A red Roadster made by the other transportation company Musk runs, [Tesla](http://time.com/5136400/spacex-elon-musk-tesla-space/ "undefined"). The Falcon Heavy is now the world’s most powerful operational rocket, a major achievement given SpaceX is a private firm rather than a government agency, like NASA or the ESA. The Falcon Heavy’s successful launch is an encouraging sign for SpaceX and Musk’s lofty ambitions to one day put humans on Mars. Such a goal remains years away. But Musk still managed to use the Falcon Heavy launch to put one of his electric cars into space. Strapped in the Tesla’s seats was a mannequin wearing a spacesuit nicknamed “Starman,” a reference to the David Bowie classic. “It’s kind of silly and fun, but silly and fun things are important,” Musk said at a news conference following SpaceX’s successful Falcon Heavy launch. Starman is expected to orbit the sun for hundreds of millions of years. Take a look at some of the photos of him driving in space with a Tesla, courtesy SpaceX’s cameras on board the car. > [](https://twitter.com/elonmusk/status/960998900243902466) > [](https://twitter.com/elonmusk/status/960992715579125760) > [](https://twitter.com/KapilMishra%5FIND/status/961204181188177920) > [](https://twitter.com/JonErlichman/status/961064761990541315) > [](https://twitter.com/brianstelter/status/961041487231311872) ```json [{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"NewsArticle","@id":"https://time.com/5137113/elon-musk-tesla-roadster-space/","mainEntityOfPage":{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https://time.com/5137113/elon-musk-tesla-roadster-space/"},"headline":"The Falcon Heavy Rocket Shot a Tesla Into Outer Space. 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