Last night, SpaceX dished out what will likely become an iconic image for decades to come — Elon Musk’s personal cherry-red Tesla Roadster flying off into space, as the earth slowly receded in the background. But the Tesla also had a passenger. A mannequin, whom Musk had dubbed Starman, had been strapped to the front seat. And while the internet was in awe of SpaceX’s achievement, Starman quickly became a meme.
People hoped he was having a nice ride.
Traffic’s not too bad this morning. Bit cold with the roof down though #morningcommute #whataview #SpaceX #Starman pic.twitter.com/tDnIXjpFfM
— Siobhán (@Just_Shiv) February 7, 2018
And thought that a car would look rather out of place in space.
I bet the ISS crew were looking at each other like ‘who ordered the Uber’
— ??Julian (@JKRLMazur) February 6, 2018
Lots of Uber jokes were made.
"where tf my uber driver taking me" #SpaceX #Starman #FalconHeavy ??? pic.twitter.com/RUeFVAGSAL
— Josh (Chief Canuck) (@ChiefCanuck) February 6, 2018
My uber driver seems to be taking the long way home….rating: 1 star. #spaceX #starman #spacegeek pic.twitter.com/Nsb2iHEtoG
— Josh Frank (@jfrank76) February 7, 2018
People also took digs at Apple Maps.
TMW you use Apple Maps instead of Google Maps #Starman pic.twitter.com/I7Eqkhpgqh
— Andrea Ayres (@missafayres) February 6, 2018
And put Starman in popular memes.
Her: come over
Starman: i can’t i’m on a space x mission
Her: my parents aren’t home
Starman: pic.twitter.com/n8xVL9Hyds
— rudy mustang (@rudy_mustang) February 7, 2018
Indians too got into the act, comparing him to some famous drivers.
Elon Musk should have checked inside mannequin's helmet before #FalconHeavyLaunch#Starman pic.twitter.com/FNy4EKNN1z
— Pragmatist (@sanmistryious) February 7, 2018
And people came up with conspiracy theories.
So I'm pretty sure the Starman in the car in space is a mannequin but what if Jeff Bezos suddenly mysteriously disappears and nobody knows why
— Wᴀʀʀᴇɴ Eʟʟɪs (@warrenellis) February 6, 2018
Pop culture references, too, were aplenty.
"Roads? Where we're going we don't need roads…"#FalconHeavy #Starman pic.twitter.com/AKZRP5YrQ4
— Matt Deras (@mattderas) February 6, 2018
If Starman suddenly turns and looks at the camera, this instantly becomes a #DoctorWho episode. #FalconHeavy
— Shawn McMahon, tragic meat machine (@syberghost) February 6, 2018
But people ultimately applauded the achievement — humanity might be currently embroiled in wars and petty feuds, but even a billion years from now, Starman will still be in space, gently floating away in his red Tesla.
When Alien visitors find a scorched and barren Earth torn apart and wasted by petty nationalism, greed and religious dogma, the Starman in his Tesla with a copy of The Hitchhikers Guide To The Galaxy in the glove box will be the only clue mankind had a sense of hope and humour.
— Dirk Maggs (@DirkMaggs) February 7, 2018