Elon Musk’s Tesla Mistaken for Near-Earth Asteroid – Here’s Why! (SpaceX / X @MosheDe_)
In 2018, during the launch of the SpaceX Falcon Heavy rocket, Elon Musk sent a Tesla Roadster into space, which later led to some confusion.
An object initially classified as a near-Earth asteroid was spotted and registered as 2018 CN41. It was about 240,000 km from Earth, which would classify it as a NEO (Near-Earth Object), raising concerns about a potential collision.
However, less than 24 hours later, the Minor Planet Center (MPC) corrected the mistake, clarifying that what appeared to be an asteroid was actually Musk’s car, still attached to the upper stage of the rocket.
The confusion occurred because the eccentric orbit of the Tesla Roadster caused it to cross the Moon’s trajectory, making it difficult to distinguish from an asteroid. Although the car follows a path that intersects the orbits of Mars and Earth, it does not pose an imminent threat. The likelihood of a collision with Earth was initially calculated at 22%, but this risk is far off, with the predicted impact occurring in millions of years.
The Tesla’s trajectory through space remains unpredictable due to encounters with other planets, which alter its orbit. The next approach to Earth is expected in 2047, when the car will be about five million kilometers away. However, its orbit will continue to change, making it difficult to predict its long-term fate.
Source: Olhar Digital / Indy 100 | Photo: SpaceX / X @MosheDe_ | This content was created with the help of AI and reviewed by the editorial team
Newly discovered asteroid spotted around 150,000 miles from earth turns out to be Elon Musk’s Tesla Roadster, launched in to Space in 2018 as payload on a SpaceX Falcon Heavy Rocket test flight. pic.twitter.com/RGlIz13Aac
— Moshe (@MosheDe_) January 27, 2025
