Time flies when you’re floating aimlessly through the cold, inhospitable wasteland that is space. And it’s already been seven years since SpaceX test-launched its powerful Falcon Heavy rocket, shooting founder Elon Musk’s personal Tesla Roadster into space. The cherry-red sports car is still out there after taking off on Feb. 6, 2018, and even suffered from a recent case of mistaken identity when astronomers thought it might be an asteroid.
A lot has happened since 2018. Musk turned Twitter into X. Tons of Starship development. Tons of Falcon 9 launches. Some more Falcon Heavy launches. Through it all, the red car and a mannequin named Starman have been in orbit around the sun.
Tesla Roadster as near-Earth object
Musk’s car was accidentally and briefly classified as an asteroid in 2025. The International Astronomical Union’s Minor Planet Center issued a bulletin on Jan. 2 announcing 2018 CN41 as a newly discovered near-Earth object. NEOs include asteroids and comets.
The MPC issued a follow-up notice on Jan. 3, saying, “The next day it was pointed out the orbit matches an artificial object 2018-017A, Falcon Heavy Upper stage with the Tesla Roadster. The designation 2018 CN41 is being deleted and will be listed as omitted.”
New space objects are discovered all the time. It’s important work. Astronomers aim to find and track asteroids that could potentially hit Earth. The MPC has cataloged over 37,500 NEOs, with 190 so far in January alone. The Roadster slipped through the cracks for a flash in time. It shows how a human-made object can resemble a natural one.
Where in space is the Tesla Roadster?
Where exactly is the car now? There’s a handy website that’ll show you.
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