The Minor Planet Center (MPC) recently mistook Elon Musk’s Tesla Roadster for a small celestial object, sparking fascination from the billionaire. The MPC, responsible for designating minor bodies in the solar system such as asteroids and comets, announced the discovery of an object in space designated 2018 CN41 on January 2.
What Happened
The MPC initially thought they had discovered a new celestial object, but after further investigation, they realized that the object’s orbit matched that of the Falcon Heavy upper stage with the Tesla Roadster. This led to the designation being deleted.
The Tesla Roadster’s Journey
The Tesla Roadster was launched into space in February 2018 as part of a test flight of SpaceX’s Falcon Heavy rocket. The vehicle, along with a spacesuit-wearing dummy named “Starman,” has been orbiting Earth and Mars ever since. According to a third-party tracking website, the Roadster is currently located:
- 238,987,400 miles from Earth
- 293,723,237 miles from Mars
- 152,441,919 miles from the Sun
Elon Musk’s Reaction
Upon hearing the news, Elon Musk took to social media to comment on the mix-up, saying “My car is orbiting Earth and Mars “.
The New Tesla Roadster
Tesla plans to start production of the new Roadster in 2025, with the sports car being a tribute to the company’s first electric vehicle. The new generation Roadster prototype was showcased in 2017, with an initial estimated price of $200,000. However, the production timeline has been pushed back several times.
Features of the New Roadster
The upcoming Tesla Roadster is expected to have impressive performance capabilities, with Elon Musk stating that it can accelerate from 0 to 60 mph in under 1 second. This is made possible through a collaboration between Tesla and SpaceX.
Conclusion
The mix-up between the Tesla Roadster and a celestial object highlights the fascinating journey of the vehicle and the advancements being made in space exploration and electric vehicles. With the new Roadster set to be released in 2025, fans of Tesla and SpaceX are eagerly awaiting its arrival.