NASA’s Asteroid Mix-Up: Discover the Surprising Connection to Elon Musk!

An amateur astronomer recently discovered a new near-Earth object, but it turned out to be a mix-up. Initially thought to be an asteroid, it was revealed to be the remains of the Tesla Roadster sent into space by SpaceX in 2018. This twist adds a fascinating chapter to the story of space exploration.

On January 2, 2024, the International Astronomical Union’s Minor Planet Center (MPC) announced the addition of an object named 2018 CN41 to their list of near-Earth asteroids. However, just 17 hours later, they took it back. They realized the object wasn’t an asteroid; it was the Tesla Roadster that had been orbiting the sun for nearly six years.

The Tesla and its mannequin driver, Starman, were launched during SpaceX’s Falcon Heavy mission. Instead of heading towards Mars, the car ended up following a stable path around the sun. It has completed about 4.5 orbits at speeds of up to 45,000 mph. What started as a publicity stunt has turned into a memorable symbol of modern space exploration. Remarkably, in space, it has outlasted its warranty by 100,000 miles.

However, the harshness of space has likely taken a toll on the car. Intense solar radiation and micrometeoroid impacts have probably stripped away much of its shiny exterior. Starman likely isn’t in great shape either, as tiny space particles have battered his form.

This isn’t the first time that human-made objects have been mistaken for asteroids. Astronomers have faced confusion in the past, with various spacecraft, including the ESA’s Rosetta probe and NASA’s Lucy mission, initially listed as space rocks. As more objects venture into space, experts are concerned about costly mistakes. Jonathan McDowell from the Harvard and Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics warns that misidentifications could lead to flawed missions. Imagine sending a billion-dollar probe to study an “asteroid,” only to find out it’s just a piece of space junk!

The need for better tracking of objects in deep space is becoming urgent. While space agencies monitor objects close to Earth, they lack oversight for those that have escaped our atmosphere. Right now, there’s no legislation requiring transparency about human-made objects beyond Earth’s orbit.

The American Astronomical Society is calling for improved tracking of these objects. Enhanced monitoring is essential to avoid confusion with natural celestial bodies and to ensure the safety of space missions. As our presence in space grows, so does the necessity for clear tracking systems to keep our explorations safe and effective.

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