The real reason Elon Musk’s incredible Mars-bound ‘space car’ has a ‘Don’t Panic’ sticker on the dashboard
The ominous sign is actually a sly reference to comedy sci-fi series The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy
THE "Don't Panic" sign in Elon Musk's Mars-bound sports car is a sly reference to comedy sci-fi series The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy, it has been revealed.
SPACEX made history this week when the rocket manufacturer successfully blasted a Tesla Roadster into space on board the Falcon Heavy rocket.
The cherry red car was driven by a dummy in a spacesuit named Starman, after the David Bowie song.
But mystery surrounded the ominous message emblazoned on the dashboard...until now.
Turns out billionaire Musk loves his pop culture references - for this is another one.
Musk first read late Douglas Adams' The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy' as a teenager and in the series, the guide itself has "Don't Panic" on its cover.
In a 2013 interview with , the entrepreneur said the spaceship from the book was his favourite from science fiction.
He said: "I read Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy which is quite positive I think and it highlighted an important point which is that a lot of times the question is harder than the answer.
"And if you can properly phrase the question, then the answer is the easy part.
"So, to the degree that we can better understand the universe, then we can better know what questions to ask.
"Then whatever the question is that most approximates: what's the meaning of life? That's the question we can ultimately get closer to understanding."
People took to social media to comment on the connection.
Stephen Fry tweeted: "How I wish Douglas Adams were alive to see 'Don't Panic' in huge friendly letters on the Tesla. that was a classy addition."
The Falcon Heavy took off from the Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Florida, shortly after 3.45pm EST (8.45pm GMT) on Tuesday.
Musk later revealed that the thrilling launch was equally stressful to him.
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He said: “I had this image of this giant explosion on the pad, with wheels bouncing down the road and the logo landing somewhere with a thud.
“But fortunately, that's not what happened.
"Crazy things come true."
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