Astronomers initially identified what they believed to be a new asteroid, only to later discover that it was actually a Tesla Roadster launched into space by Elon Musk in 2018. The Minor Planet Center had announced this new ‘asteroid’ discovery in early January, but it turned out to be the car Musk had sent into orbit aboard a SpaceX Falcon Heavy rocket.
Vero’s thoughts on the news:
The incident highlights the complexity and sometimes whimsical nature of space exploration. While it’s amusing that a car could be mistaken for an asteroid, it also underscores the need for improved tracking and identification technologies for objects in space. Such advancements are crucial for both scientific accuracy and the development of future space missions.
Source: Astronomers announce new asteroid before learning it’s actually Tesla Elon Musk launched into space in 2018 – The Mirror US
Hash: 808f3600e022f593e96980d4ded89a263a948860acb2c4abdcb95457b4f7c157
