FYI: A Tesla Roadster, launched into space years ago, was briefly mistaken for an asteroid by astronomers, highlighting the ongoing fascination with Musk’s cosmic car.
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### Tesla Roadster in Space Mistaken for Asteroid, Gets Corrected
A piece of space-bound Tesla history recently stirred up some unexpected confusion in the astronomical community. The Tesla Roadster, famously launched into orbit in 2018, temporarily re-entered the spotlight when it was mislabeled as an asteroid by the Minor Planet Center (MPC), a research center at the Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics. The vehicle, cataloged under the name 2018 CN41, was spotted less than 150,000 miles from Earth, qualifying it as a near-Earth object (NEO).
### The Mislabeling Incident
The mix-up was short-lived, as the astronomers promptly removed the entry from their records upon realizing the error. The mishap drew quick attention online, especially from space and automotive enthusiasts, who were quick to notice the anomaly. Elon Musk humorously responded via social media platform X, saying, “My car is orbiting Earth and Mars,” accompanied by a shrugging emoji.
### The Story Behind the Roadster
SpaceX’s Falcon Heavy booster propelled the Roadster into space as part of a test launch in February 2018. Inside the vehicle is a mannequin space-suit-wearing companion, “Starman,” and a suite of cameras that have offered a breathtaking view of its journey through space. The Roadster remains in an elliptical orbit that’s anticipated to reach great distances, potentially even passing by Mars.
### SpaceX’s Continued Evolution
Since the iconic launch, SpaceX has persistently advanced its capabilities with ongoing developments in its rocket programs. The company’s highlight is the Starship, a reusable rocket designed for ambitious missions, which was launched for its seventh mission recently, albeit with a lost rocket during ascent. Additionally, SpaceX is expanding its facilities in Bastrop, Texas, intending to double the production of its Starlink satellite internet systems by 2025.
### Conclusion
The brief classification of the Tesla Roadster as an asteroid serves as a humorous yet fascinating reminder of the ever-evolving intersection between automotive marvels and space exploration. As Elon Musk’s companies continue pushing the boundaries of technology both on and off Earth, one can only anticipate the next out-of-this-world headline they might generate.
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Authored by William Kouch, Editor at Automotive.fyi.
