Elon Musk is the real world’s answer to Tony Stark from the Marvel films – a tech mogul who inspires people to think out of the box and invent things previously imagined only in sci-fi. This South African-born Canadian American business magnate considers himself first and foremost to be an engineer and an inventor. His real accomplishments and titles though are ranged from being the founder, CEO, and lead designer of the space commercialization company SpaceX and being the co-founder and CEO of Tesla and Neuralink.

Born in South Africa and raised in Canada, this child prodigy taught himself computer programming at the age of 12. By the age of 17 he moved to Canada with his now divorced father and attended the Queen’s University. Two years later, due to a dysfunctional relationship with his father, he transferred himself to the University of Pennsylvania. He received a degree in economics from the Wharton School along with a physics degree from the College of Arts and Sciences. Intending to further his education, he started a PhD in applied physics and material sciences at Stanford University but dropped out within two days of enrolling to become an entrepreneur.

Musk co-founded Zip2, a web-software company that Compaq acquired for a whooping $340 million in the year 1999. Continuing on his path to glory, Musk then founded X.com, an online payment company that eventually became PayPal and was bought by eBay for a massive $1.5 billion in October 2002. In the years 2002 and 2003, he finally founded the two companies that defined his personality and helped him realize his dreams. SpaceX, followed by Tesla, are his longest running projects, which continue to be of great personal interest to him.
Elon Musk’s primary preoccupation these days is clearly outer space – from space-tourism to human colonies on Mars (Mars Oasis). But off late, one of the most talked about achievements of this entrepreneurial genius is his Tesla Roadster. And on February 6th 2018, both of Musk’s interests converged when the Tesla Roadster was projected into outer space.

Here’s a rundown on the in’s and out’s of what can only be described as a ‘brilliant absurdity’:

• “Mars Oasis” is the reason behind the launch of Tesla in space. It is the primary motive behind forming SpaceX. This colonization of Mars with miniature experimental greenhouse that contain food crops growing on Martian land is part of Musk’s effort to regain public interest in space exploration.
• To achieve this mission, Musk traveled to Russia to acquire missiles that can reach space to deliver the envisioned payload. However, having his idea repeatedly shot down, and getting quotes for ridiculous budgets for creating those missiles, he decided to build the space launch vehicle himself.
• SpaceX is now concentrating on developing and manufacturing space launch vehicles, with a major focus on making advancements in rocket technology.
• Within seven years, SpaceX has established launch vehicles by the name of Falcon launch vehicles and the Dragon multipurpose spacecraft. In September 2008, SpaceX’s Falcon 1 rocket went on to become the first privately funded liquid-fueled vehicle to help put a satellite into the Earth’s orbit. In May, 2012, the SpaceX Dragon vehicle berthed along with the International Space Station, making history as the first commercial company to launch and berth a vehicle with the ISS.
• On February 2018, SpaceX’s Falcon heavy rocket launched from Cape Canaveral – aboard was the Tesla roadster and a dummy driver.
• The driver has been named “Starman” and is mannequin dressed in a spacesuit and occupying the driver’s seat.
• It is a milestone project as this is the only consumer car thus far that has been sent into space. The car was launched into an orbit that is intended to cross the orbit of Mars and reach a distance of around 1.66 au from the Sun. As per the design of the trajectory this car cannot intercept Mars, so contrary to popular belief, the car will not fly by Mars nor enter an orbit around it.