Elon Musk has hinted at some ambitious stunts for Tesla’s next-generation Roadster, suggesting that future demonstrations could see the electric car fly over the Snake River or the Grand Canyon, land on its wheels and exceed half the speed of sound.
Tesla vehicle engineering head Lars Moravy explained that the Roadster’s flying capability is powered by SpaceX thrusters. The system uses cold-gas thrusters developed by SpaceX. Unlike conventional rockets that rely on combustion, these thrusters release pressurised gas to generate thrust. The force allows the Roadster to perform a brief airborne manoeuvre before returning to the ground in a controlled landing.
The car uses 10 thrusters connected to 600 litres of compressed air to lift and spin it in midair, according to a TechCrunch report.
The duration of the Roadster’s flight depends directly on the amount of gas available onboard. This means its ability to remain airborne is linked to the supply of compressed gas used by the thrusters.
