Astronomers recently misidentified a Tesla Roadster launched into space by SpaceX in 2018 as an asteroid, prompting a swift correction from the Minor Planet Center.
A surprising mix-up occurred earlier this month when astronomers mistook a Tesla Roadster, launched into orbit by SpaceX in 2018, for an asteroid. The Minor Planet Center, part of the Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics in Massachusetts, quickly corrected the error after registering the object as 2018 CN41.
The registration of 2018 CN41 was deleted just one day later, on January 3, when it became clear that the object in question was not an asteroid but rather Elon Musk’s iconic roadster. The Minor Planet Center announced on its website that the designation was removed after it was determined that the orbit of 2018 CN41 matched that of an artificial object, specifically the Falcon Heavy upper stage carrying the Tesla Roadster.
This roadster was launched during the maiden flight of SpaceX’s Falcon Heavy rocket in February 2018. Originally, it was expected to enter an elliptical orbit around the sun, extending slightly beyond Mars before returning toward Earth. However, it appears that the roadster exceeded Mars’ orbit and continued on toward the asteroid belt, as Musk indicated at the time.
When the Tesla Roadster was mistakenly identified as an asteroid, it was located less than 150,000 miles from Earth, which is closer than the orbit of the moon. This proximity raised concerns among astronomers, who felt it necessary to monitor the object closely.
Jonathan McDowell, an astrophysicist at the Center for Astrophysics, commented on the incident, highlighting the challenges posed by untracked objects in space. “Worst case, you spend a billion launching a space probe to study an asteroid and only realize it’s not an asteroid when you get there,” he remarked, emphasizing the potential implications of such identification errors.
The Tesla Roadster, which features a mannequin named Starman in the driver’s seat, has become a symbol of SpaceX’s innovative spirit and Musk’s unique approach to space exploration. As it continues its journey through the cosmos, the roadster serves as a reminder of the intersection between technology, humor, and the vastness of space.
As the situation unfolded, Fox News Digital reached out to SpaceX for further comment but had not received a response at the time of publication. This incident underscores the importance of accurate tracking and identification of objects in space, particularly as more artificial satellites and spacecraft are launched into orbit.
According to Astronomy Magazine, the mix-up illustrates the complexities involved in monitoring the increasing number of artificial objects in Earth’s vicinity. As space exploration continues to advance, the need for precise tracking systems becomes ever more critical.