SpaceX’s Falcon Heavy rocket didn’t blow up on the launch pad, but it did blow up the internet.
More than 2 million people tuned in to the launch of the world’s most powerful operational rocket on YouTube. The pieces of the triple-barreled rocket splintered off and two of the three cores made picture-perfect landings, setting off childlike joy across the internet.
With the launch complete, attention turned to the Tesla Roadster with a spacesuit-clad “Starman” mannequin in the front seat packed inside the Falcon Heavy’s nose cone. A livestream produced breathtaking images of Starman and the Roadster in space.
No one had more to be giddy about today than SpaceX CEO Elon Musk. But he played it cool.
Hours after the launch, President Donald Trump sent along his congratulations, hailing SpaceX’s achievement as an example of “American ingenuity at its best.”
That drew a gracious acknowledgment from Musk, who hasn’t always seen eye to eye with the president.
Vice President Mike Pence, who chairs the National Space Council, congratulated SpaceX as well (and linked to Fox News, of course).
Praise also came from Jeff Bezos, the Amazon CEO and founder of SpaceX rival Blue Origin. Before the launch, Bezos wished Musk and SpaceX good luck, and Musk responded with a smooching emoji.
After the launch, Bezos kept the bromance alive, giving Musk a congratulatory “Woohoo” and three rocket emojis in honor of the Falcon Heavy.
The launch elicited huzzahs from other luminaries in the space community.
As it does with most major events these days, the internet had a lot to say about the launch. Most, including the GeekWire newsroom, were left in awe by the events. But it’s still Twitter, which means there was plenty of snark to go around.