Tesla’s Roadster: How its thrusters enable flight and inverted driving

Tesla CEO Elon Musk unveiled a next-generation Roadster prototype in Texas that can launch into the air, perform mid-air barrel rolls, and drive inverted, using SpaceX-inspired cold-gas thrusters and an active suction system. The vehicle's flight capability relies on compressed air stored at up to 10,000 psi, expelled through supersonic nozzles to generate over 80 kilonewtons of thrust—nearly four times the car's weight. An array of 10 thrusters provides lift, attitude control, and stabilization, while a floor-mounted suction system creates low-pressure zones for inverted driving. The "Rocket" configuration is not approved for public roads and will be restricted to closed-circuit use, with production projected for 2028. Critics call the demonstration a marketing stunt, while aerospace engineers view it as a significant expansion of ground vehicle capabilities.