Elon Musk, the tech billionaire and CEO of Tesla, famously demonstrated the power of corporate ambition by shooting a SpaceX rocket into the sky and sending a roadster car in tow to orbit around the sun.
The Falcon Heavy rocket, nicknamed the “space taxi” was launched from Kennedy Space Center in Florida in February 2018. On board, in the driver’s seat of the modified Tesla Roadster, was a spacesuit-clad dummy aptly named “Starman”. The mission lit up Twitter and news headlines as Musk and SpaceX achieved the impossible and became an overnight media sensation.
The rocket’s payload included a launch controller computer, a data storage device, a copy of Douglas Adams’ comic sci-fi novel The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy, and a plaque of 6,000 names, including those of the 1,000 SpaceX employees.
The ‘Starman’ and car have likely made millions of orbits around the sun since their departure, but the payload is slowly degrading in the vacuum of space, with estimates that it will likely drift off in 10 to 20 millions years.
SpaceX had always planned to launch a payload, but Musk began dreaming up the idea of touring space with some kind of car during the design stages of Tesla’s Roadster. He explained that part of the purpose of the journey was to “inspire the world around space exploration.”
The mission certainly inspired the media, but reaction among some specialists has been more critical. Dr. Stephen Boyd, a professor at Stanford University’s Department of Aeronautics and Astronautics, noted “there’s no reason to put a car in space other than as a spectacle.”
Professor Boyd is critical of the mission because of its potential to increase the amount of space debris, which already poses a significant threat to our spacecrafts and satellites. But he argues these threats should be taken seriously, explaining that “space becomes an increasingly hazardous place to work” when it is cluttered with debris.
SpaceX Extended Goals
Musk’s mission to space was part of Musk’s broader goal to setup a new spacefaring civilization and enable people to live on other planets, an ambitious aim of which SpaceX is the bedrock.
The mission also resonates with Musk’s belief that space exploration can unify people, by inspiring public interest and sparking conversations around the possibilities human ambition can unlock.
The mission ultimately demonstrated the monumental ambition of SpaceX and Musk, who have sought to challenge traditional conceptions of the space industry. They have worked to make space exploration more accessible, and have achieved more than almost any other in their short existence; the Falcon Heavy launched was the most powerful rocket in operation, capable of lifting more than any other rocket since the Saturn V took astronauts to the moon.
Though the mission was a success, it was not quite the success Musk had predicted. He noted that “You can tell it’s real because it looks so fake”, revealing the unease SpaceX felt prior to the launch.
Despite the tension prior to the mission, their success has energized the space exploration community and raised the bar of ambition-setters around the world.
Musk’s Advanced Space Exploration Technology
SpaceX also demonstrated their technical prowess with the mission, displaying their ability to design powerful systems that could survive the harshness of space.
The Falcon Heavy rocket was able to launch the payload at speeds of 7,200 kph and the car itself was designed to last the equivalent of three to five years in a vacuum of space. The car’s power system, which was designed to support several cameras, relied on a complex network of thermal-management systems, thrust vectors and other electronic systems.
The success of the mission has inspired the belief that the car will make it to its destination, the asteroid belt located beyond Mars. Even those that are critical of the mission’s objectives agree that the mission has advanced our knowledge of physics and inspired a groundswell of interest in space exploration.
The Social Impact Of The Mission
Though Elon Musk is keen to point out the inspiring power of the mission, some have been more critical of its social implications.
Critics have alleged that the mission reflects the downside of wealth and privilege, noting that only those of extraordinary financial means have access to the resources that can bring about these kinds of success. In this context, the mission has been seen as a representation of Musk’s privilege.
This criticism does not detract from the audacity and accomplishment of the mission, which has been transformative. The mission has ushered in a new era of space exploration and set the bar high for what human ambition can achieve.
The Legacy Of Elon Musk’s Mission
It remains to be seen what legacy this mission will leave, though it has made a clear impression on the public imagination and set us on a trajectory of discovery.
Not only has the mission shifted our perceptions of what is possible, it has ignited controversy and debate by presenting a different and provocative approach to enterprise. It has also legitimized SpaceX and Musk as major players in the world of exploration.
What it cannot be denied is the power of this mission – and the power of ambition. Nearly three years later, and Musk’s mission to space remains an inspiration for innovators and space enthusiasts and a reminder of the power of human imagination.
Criticisms Of Musk’s Mission
Whilst Musk and SpaceX are the toast of the exploration world, not all the reactions to their mission have been positive. The success of the mission has been marred by the criticism that it is a feat enabled by financial means far beyond the average person’s budget.
Professor Boyd argued that this kind of mission should be a priority for governments and publicly funded bodies, noting that, “the way we did humans to the moon was by using a government-funded program.”
The debate rages on, with increasingly influenced by perceptions of wealth and privilege. Whilst Elon Musk continues to blaze a trail of exploration, his mission continues to be debated, analyzed and critiqued.
The Environmental Impact Of Musk’s Mission
The potential harm posed by debris from this mission – and any mission – has been a subject of debate since the mission was launched. There is a growing awareness for the need for us to clean up our space footprint, and Musk’s with his mission has failed to address this.
The car and the debris it generated have become a concern for astronomers and meteorologists, who are worried about the potential damage these parts could cause, should they hit a satellite. The bigger issue, however, is the waste created. Burning up fuel to launch space debris is certainly not good for our environment.
Moreover, the mission has inspired copy cat enterprises, which could further increase the risk of DEBRIS.
The Falcon Heavy launch has spurred on a generation of companies founded on the premise of sending things into space, but the environmental impacts of this proliferation could prove to be the undoing of the industry, if not addressed soberly and responsibly.
The Global Promise Of Musk’s Mission
All this being said, the mission has uncovered the global possibilities of human ambition, with humans harnessing technology to take us closer to the stars.
The mission has inspired innovators across the world, providing a platform from which technological and scientific advancement can be made. What began as a hobby for Musk has become something of a mission to inspire a new generation of adventurers, offering the possibility of space exploration to all.
At this point, we do not know the extent to which we can discover about the world beyond our own, but the percussive power of this mission will likely drive us forward in exploring the boundaries of what we can achieve.
