The Harvard-Smithsonian Center's Minor Planet Center mistakenly labeled the Tesla Roadster launched into space in 2018 as an asteroid named 2018 CN41. Located close to Earth, the object was soon correctly identified as the Roadster, leading the MPC to retract its classification. Elon Musk humorously noted the vehicle's orbital status on social media. The Roadster, equipped with a dummy and cameras, continues to orbit the Earth and could potentially reach Mars. Meanwhile, SpaceX is advancing its rocket programs and infrastructure for future endeavors.
Earlier this month, the Minor Planet Center (MPC) at the Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics labeled the orbital Tesla Roadster 2018 CN41, spotted less than 150,000 miles (240,000km) from Earth.
The MPC later followed up saying that it would delete 2018 CN41 from the record due to being the Roadster and not an asteroid, as was previously thought.
My car is orbiting Earth and Mars,” Musk wrote on X in response to the news, and adding a shrugging emoji.
The Roadster was launched by SpaceX's Falcon Heavy in February 2018, and it remains in an orbit that some expect could someday reach Mars or beyond.
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