A year ago today, Elon Musk launched his car into space, to test a rocket for his personal Mars colony.

Never forget the power of out-of-touch billionaires to go to great lengths to secure their own well-being in the face of planetary catastrophe of their own making.

— Eric Holthaus (@EricHolthaus) February 6, 2019

If you’re going to lie, at least do better.

Yes, Musk launched a car into space. It could’ve been any load. This was better for free advertising (people are still talking about it so it worked).

The test load as mentioned could’ve been any comparable bit of weight. Usually, it’s concrete. The true purpose of the mission was to test deep space insertion capability for sales to customers like NASA, European and/or Asian space programs, and any other parties with $100 million in hard cash who want to go past the moon reliably for any deep space missions.

Sure, the rocket and associated technology might one day be used for a Martian colony but is that its primary purpose? No. See above for the right answer that doesn’t make you look like a damn fool.