Hooniverse Asks: What car would you launch into space?


Yesterday, Elon Musk and the team at SpaceX made history not only for their rocket launch but also for sending the first road-legal production automobile into Earth’s orbit. A monumental achievement, and one that us car nerds watched in awe. It was one small step for *ahem* another display of both Musk’s and SpaceX’s enthusiasm for and intensity towards making space exploration a more practical, feasible, and prioritized reality. Thus far, it seems to be a massive success.
The vehicular choice of a Tesla Roadster was perfect as well. Being that Musk is the visionary behind both Tesla and SpaceX, it serves as much a promotion of the forward thinking attitude behind both companies.
Let’s pretend you have a rocket of your own and any vehicle you desire at your disposal. What would you launch into the abyss? There’s no pressure or anything. Just the possibility that whatever you choose will be the first thing extraterrestrials see of humankind.
Me? The question answers itself: It has to be a DeLorean. Or maybe something weirder, like a Plymouth Prowler or a VehiCROSS. But what about you? What’s the one vehicle you want circling Earth?
Bonus rounds:
What would you display on the infotainment screen?
What audio would you have playing?
What would you name your vehicle’s inanimate occupant?

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29 responses to “Hooniverse Asks: What car would you launch into space?”

  1. Hammer Avatar
    Hammer

    Opel RAK.2 🙂

  2. boonie_the_loonie Avatar
    boonie_the_loonie

    Austin Allegro,
    “Turn Right”,

    Jeremy Clarkson.

  3. neight428 Avatar
    neight428

    Can’t argue with the lads, except in execution.

    Put Merle Haggard’s Silver Wings on repeat.

  4. nanoop Avatar

    Slightly off topic, but the most spectacular bit, to me, was the footage of the parallel landing of the booster rockets.
    the rest was pretty cheesy, and I am too poor to afford cheesiness.

  5. Sjalabais Avatar
    Sjalabais

    Gargarin’s choice would probably have been the Matra Djet, pretty much the Tesla Roadster of its time:
    https://i0.wp.com/weirdrussia.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/gagarin-matra.jpg

  6. crank_case Avatar
    crank_case

    Car: Chrysler Voyager
    What would you display on the infotainment screen? The Clangers
    What audio would you have playing? As above
    What would you name your vehicle’s inanimate occupant? Jim.

    1. Wayward David Avatar
      Wayward David

      I like the idea of the Voyager because that’s a name with a proud history in early space exploration. But my brain went a slightly different direction at the idea of a spaceship named Voyager. The infotainment screen would display the Prime Directive and the occupant would have to be either Captain Janeway or Seven of Nine.

      1. crank_case Avatar
        crank_case

        I’d still rather represent humanity with genteel knitted space mice things and soup dragons than people in polyester jumpsuits banging on about the sub-prime directive to be honest.

  7. mdharrell Avatar

    “What’s the one vehicle you want circling Earth?”
    One of these, to blame for holding up everyone else.
    http://www.american-automobiles.com/images/Atlas-1912.jpg

  8. Papa Van Twee Avatar
    Papa Van Twee

    Car? 1983 Plymouth Sapporo Technica
    Display? The digital dash is all you need.
    Playing? Have the car saying, “Your door is ajar” on repeat.
    Occupant? Icarus

  9. Tiberiuswise Avatar

    Mercury Comet, while wearing a red Star Trek uniform.

  10. Batshitbox Avatar
    Batshitbox

    1959 Corvette, duh.
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DWMPe3wF9jQ

  11. Van_Sarockin Avatar
    Van_Sarockin

    Triumph TR7, and playing Shape Of Things To Come.

    1. Batshitbox Avatar
      Batshitbox

      I was going to say my old Triumph TR7, and “Set the Controls for the Heart of the Sun”, with a driver named Lucas.

  12. mdharrell Avatar

    A Taylor Aerocar, with a mannequin of Douglas “Wrong Way” Corrigan at the controls.
    http://atomictoasters.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/07/taylor_aerocar_3.jpeg

    1. Rover 1 Avatar
      Rover 1

      Or the all American version seen in a film, and that does without a propellor.
      https://www.englishforum.ch/attachments/general-off-topic/97364d1427227364-car-plane-ace701be-2f8a-4c39-a758-4cd8c0b753a1.jpg

      1. Vairship Avatar
        Vairship

        At that point you might as well use an Ave Mizar (flying Pinto) playing Disco Inferno or Great Balls of Fire https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/648b08143c50efb96ad3cf131cc6321b33865d9492a569fc7bdbe452f56b733c.jpg

  13. Batshitbox Avatar
    Batshitbox

    A Ford Prefect
    Bonus 1: DON’T PANIC!
    Bonus 2: ‘Ape Man’ by The Kinks
    Bonus 3: Arthur Dent

  14. Rover 1 Avatar
    Rover 1

    Remember, you’re in space. You have to live in it.
    You need a motorhome, a Winnebago.
    http://www.imcdb.org/i014240.jpg

    1. wunno sev Avatar
      wunno sev

      and we know from the flamethrower that Elon’s a fan of Spaceballs.
      i’m surprised this isn’t what was in the FH, based on how many other sci-fi cultural references were packed into that car

  15. robbydegraff Avatar
    robbydegraff

    Hands-down the Isuzu Vehicross, the Kia Borrego or a Lambo LM2002
    On the infotainment screen? Any scene from the original Jurassic Park.
    Audio playing? “Bodies” by Drowning Pool
    Inanimate occupant’s name? Sir Freedom

    1. wunno sev Avatar
      wunno sev

    1. Rover 1 Avatar
      Rover 1

      Only if you’re launching it into the sun?

      1. Alff Avatar
        Alff

        It will get there eventually… won’t it?

        1. Rover 1 Avatar
          Rover 1

          As will all of this around us, but only on the time scales familiar to MD Harrell