Elon Musk's Tesla Roadster#Orbit

{{stack|File:Elon Musk's Tesla Roadster.jpg}}

In March 2017, SpaceX's founder, Elon Musk, said that because the launch of the new Falcon Heavy vehicle was risky, it would carry the "silliest thing we can imagine".{{cite tweet |user=elonmusk |author-link=Elon Musk |number=847884351375372288 |title=Silliest thing we can imagine! Secret payload of 1st Dragon flight was a giant wheel of cheese. Inspired by a friend & Monty Python. |date=2017-03-31 |access-date=2018-07-11}}

In June 2017, one of his Twitter followers suggested that the silly thing be a Tesla Model S, to which Musk replied: "Suggestions welcome!"{{cite tweet | user=janeidyeve | first=Evelyn Janeidy |last=Arevalo | number=875509666742226944 | title= @elonmusk Please Let Twitter vote for #FalconHeavyCargo Let us imagine the silliest things possible! @arstechnica @TeslaMotors @spacex -RT&❤ |date=2017-06-15 }}{{cite news |url=https://brownsvilleherald.com/premium/brownsville-woman-musk-interact-on-social-media/article_ba93abf8-0ba9-11e8-bf75-37650ef1ea55.html?mode=jqm |first=Mark |last=Reagan |title=Brownsville woman, Musk interact on social media |work=The Brownsville Herald |date=2018-02-07 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180210101754/https://brownsvilleherald.com/premium/brownsville-woman-musk-interact-on-social-media/article_ba93abf8-0ba9-11e8-bf75-37650ef1ea55.html |archive-date=2018-02-10 |url-status=dead }}{{cite news |url=https://www.kveo.com/news/local-news/brownsville-woman-inspires-spacex-to-launch-car-to-mars/894946361 |title=Brownsville Woman Inspires SpaceX to Launch Car to Mars |first=Marlane |last=Rodriguez |work=KVEO-TV |date=2018-01-02 |access-date=2018-12-13 |archive-date=2020-07-29 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200729225219/https://www.valleycentral.com/news/local-news/brownsville-woman-inspires-spacex-to-launch-car-to-mars/894946361/ |url-status=live }}{{cite tweet | user=elonmusk | author-link=Elon Musk | number=881571150630756352 | title=Suggestions welcome! |date=2017-07-02 }}

In December 2017, Musk announced that the payload would be his personal "midnight cherry Tesla Roadster".{{cite web |url=https://spaceflightnow.com/2017/12/02/spacex-will-try-to-launch-elon-musks-tesla-roadster-on-new-heavy-lift-rocket/ |title=Elon Musk says SpaceX will try to launch his Tesla Roadster on new heavy-lift rocket |website=Space Flight Now |access-date=2017-12-02 |archive-date=2021-01-15 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210115184656/https://spaceflightnow.com/2017/12/02/spacex-will-try-to-launch-elon-musks-tesla-roadster-on-new-heavy-lift-rocket/ |url-status=live }}{{cite web |url=https://www.space.com/38968-elon-musk-falcon-heavy-rocket-tesla-roadster.html |title=Elon Musk Will Launch His Tesla Roadster to Mars on SpaceX's 1st Falcon Heavy Rocket |first=Tariq |last=Malik |website=Space.com |date=2017-12-01 |access-date=2017-12-03 |archive-date=2020-12-07 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201207204756/https://www.space.com/38968-elon-musk-falcon-heavy-rocket-tesla-roadster.html |url-status=live }}{{cite news |title=Falcon Heavy's Debut Flight Payload: A Tesla Roadster |url=http://aviationweek.com/space/falcon-heavy-s-debut-flight-payload-tesla-roadster |access-date=2017-12-07 |magazine=Aviation Week & Space Technology |date=2017-12-06 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190731085050/https://aviationweek.com/space/falcon-heavy-s-debut-flight-payload-tesla-roadster |archive-date=2019-07-31 |url-status=live}}

One of the test flight objectives was to demonstrate that the new rocket could carry a payload as far as the orbit of Mars. NASA deputy administrator Lori Garver stated that SpaceX had "offered free launches to NASA, Air Force etc. but got no takers", and that "the Tesla gimmick was the backup".{{Cite web |title=Launching Elon Musk's car toward Mars was a backup plan — here's what SpaceX actually wanted to do with Falcon Heavy's first flight |first=Dave |last=Mosher |date=February 9, 2018 |url=http://www.businessinsider.com/starman-tesla-backup-payload-spacex-musk-nasa-2018-2 |website=Business Insider |access-date=February 9, 2018 |archive-date=November 9, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201109025228/https://www.businessinsider.com/starman-tesla-backup-payload-spacex-musk-nasa-2018-2?r=DE&IR=T |url-status=live }}

The Roadster is the first standard roadworthy vehicle sent into space,{{cite news |url=https://futurism.com/experts-elon-musk-roadster/ |title=The First Car in Space |date=December 30, 2017 |access-date=January 14, 2018 |archive-date=December 1, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201201195419/https://futurism.com/experts-elon-musk-roadster |url-status=live }} following several special-purpose lunar and Mars rovers.

{{stack|File:Tesla Roadster mounted on Falcon Heavy upper stage.png}}

{{stack|File:Falcon Heavy Demo Mission (40126461851).jpg liftoff from pad LC-39A.]]

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The car was permanently mounted on the rocket in an inclined position above the payload adapter. Tubular structures were added to mount front and side cameras. Photos of the car prior to payload encapsulation were released.{{cite news |last1=Knapp |first1=Alex |title=Elon Musk Shows Off Photos of a Tesla Roadster Getting Prepped to Go to Mars |date=December 22, 2017 |magazine=Forbes |url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/alexknapp/2017/12/22/elon-musk-shows-off-photos-of-tesla-roadster-prepped-to-go-to-mars/ |access-date=December 23, 2017 |archive-date=December 23, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171223005903/https://www.forbes.com/sites/alexknapp/2017/12/22/elon-musk-shows-off-photos-of-tesla-roadster-prepped-to-go-to-mars/ |url-status=live }}

Positioned in the driver's seat is "Starman", a full-scale human mannequin clad in a SpaceX pressure spacesuit.{{Cite web |last=Weitering |first=Hanneke |date=2018-02-05 |title=Elon Musk Unveils 'Starman' in Tesla Roadster Launching on SpaceX's Falcon Heavy Rocket |url=https://www.space.com/39593-starman-aboard-tesla-roadster-spacex-falcon-heavy.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180205201005/https://www.space.com/39593-starman-aboard-tesla-roadster-spacex-falcon-heavy.html |archive-date=2018-02-05 |access-date= |website=Space.com}} It was placed with the right hand on the steering wheel and the left elbow resting on the open window sill. The mannequin was named after the David Bowie song "Starman",{{cite magazine |author=Pappalardo |first=Joe |date=February 5, 2018 |title=Elon Musk's Space Tesla Isn't Going to Mars. It's Going Somewhere More Important. |url=https://www.popularmechanics.com/space/moon-mars/a16571489/elon-musk-space-tesla-mars/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180206230725/https://www.popularmechanics.com/space/moon-mars/a16571489/elon-musk-space-tesla-mars/ |archive-date=February 6, 2018 |access-date=February 6, 2018 |magazine=Popular Mechanics}} and the car's sound system was set before launch to continuously loop the Bowie song "Space Oddity".{{cite magazine|title=SpaceX Successfully Launches the Falcon Heavy – and Elon Musk's Roadster|url=https://www.wired.com/story/spacex-successfully-launches-the-falcon-heavyand-elon-musks-roadster/|magazine=WIRED|access-date=February 7, 2018|date=2018-02-06|archive-date=February 7, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180207003954/https://www.wired.com/story/spacex-successfully-launches-the-falcon-heavyand-elon-musks-roadster/|url-status=live}}

A copy of Douglas Adams' novel The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy is in the glove box, along with references to the book in the form of a towel and a sign on the dashboard that reads "DON'T PANIC!".{{blist | {{cite tweet |user=tiamaria68uk |number=938930620511801345 |access-date=December 8, 2017 |date=December 8, 2017 |title= Will the glove box contain "The Hitchhikers Guide To The Galaxy"?}} | {{cite tweet |author-link=Elon Musk |user=elonmusk |number=938947119246860290 |access-date=December 8, 2017 |date=December 8, 2017 |title=Yes}} | {{cite tweet |author-link=Elon Musk |user=elonmusk |title=Plus a towel and a sign saying 'Don't Panic' |number=939005893634506752 |access-date=December 8, 2017 |date=December 8, 2017}} }}

A Hot Wheels miniature Roadster with a miniature Starman is mounted on the dashboard. A plaque bearing the names of the employees who worked on the project is placed underneath the car, and a message on the vehicle's circuit board reads "Made on Earth by humans".{{cite web |first=Elon |last=Musk |author-link=Elon Musk |title=Printed on the circuit board of a car in deep space |url=https://www.instagram.com/p/Be31IJxgOoK/ |via=Instagram |access-date=February 7, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180207035617/https://www.instagram.com/p/Be31IJxgOoK/ |archive-date=February 7, 2018 |url-status=dead |df=mdy-all}} The car carries a copy of Isaac Asimov's Foundation trilogy on a 5D optical disc, a proof of concept for high-density long-lasting data storage, donated to Musk by the Arch Mission Foundation.{{cite web |author=Taylor |first=Chris |date=February 9, 2018 |title=Forget the Tesla, Elon Musk launched the first books in an ever-lasting space library |url=https://mashable.com/2018/02/09/elon-musk-tesla-roadster-space-library/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180218090251/https://mashable.com/2018/02/09/elon-musk-tesla-roadster-space-library/ |archive-date=February 18, 2018 |access-date=February 17, 2018 |work=Mashable}}{{cite web |author=Olson |first=Eric |date=February 14, 2018 |title=Backing Up Humanity: First Arch Launched on Falcon Heavy |url=https://insights.globalspec.com/article/7975/backing-up-humanity-first-arch-launched-on-falcon-heavy |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180215023805/https://insights.globalspec.com/article/7975/backing-up-humanity-first-arch-launched-on-falcon-heavy |archive-date=February 15, 2018 |access-date=February 17, 2018 |work=IEEE GlobalSpec}}

{{Main|Falcon Heavy test flight}}

[[File:Animation of SpaceX Roadster trajectory.gif|thumb|An animation of the Roadster's trajectory

File:Tesla Roadster orbital diagram.png is ~250 million kilometres (1.66 au).|alt=Diagram of the inner solar system with the circular orbits of Mercury, Venus, Earth and Mars going around the Sun. The orbit of the Tesla Roadster is shown in red, also encircling the Sun, but in an ellipse shape that touches Earth orbit on one side of the Sun, and extends outwards beyond Mars orbit on the other side of the Sun.]]

The US Office of Commercial Space Transportation issued the test flight's launch license on February 2, 2018.{{cite web |url=http://images.spaceref.com/news/2018/LLS18107doc.pdf |title=License Number: LLS 18-107 |first=Kenneth |last=Wong |publisher=Office of Commercial Space Transportation |date=February 2, 2018 |access-date=February 5, 2018 |quote=Space Exploration Technologies is authorized to conduct: (i) a flight of the Falcon Heavy launch vehicle from Kennedy Space Center Launch Complex 39A at Kennedy Space Center (KSC) transporting the modified Tesla Roadster (mass simulator) to a hyperbolic orbit; and […] }} The rocket lifted off from Launch Complex 39A at Kennedy Space Center at 15:45 EST (20:45 UTC) on February 6.{{cite news |last1=Santana |first1=Marco |last2=Brinkmann |first2=Paul |date=February 6, 2018 |title=SpaceX Falcon Heavy launch live coverage: Liftoff successful |url=http://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/space/os-bz-falcon-heavy-spacex-launch-tuesday-20180206-story.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180206215128/http://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/space/os-bz-falcon-heavy-spacex-launch-tuesday-20180206-story.html |archive-date=February 6, 2018 |access-date=February 6, 2018 |newspaper=Orlando Sentinel}} The upper stage supporting the car was initially placed in an Earth parking orbit. It spent six hours coasting through the Van Allen radiation belts, thereby demonstrating a new capability requested by the U.S. Air Force for direct insertion of heavy intelligence satellites into geostationary orbit. Then, the upper stage performed a second boost to reach the desired escape trajectory.{{cite news |url=https://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2018/02/spacex-debut-falcon-heavy-demonstration-launch/ |last1=Gebhardt |first1=Chris |title=SpaceX set to debut Falcon Heavy in demonstration launch from KSC |work=NASASpaceFlight.com |date=February 6, 2018 |access-date=February 6, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201109040210/https://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2018/02/spacex-debut-falcon-heavy-demonstration-launch/ |archive-date=November 9, 2020 |url-status=live }}{{cite news |url=https://arstechnica.com/science/2018/02/at-the-pad-elon-musk-sizes-up-the-falcon-heavys-chance-of-success/ |last1=Berger |first1=Eric |title=Elon Musk says the Falcon Heavy has a 50-50 chance of success |website=Ars Technica |date=February 6, 2018 |access-date=February 6, 2018 |archive-date=February 16, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210216125144/https://arstechnica.com/science/2018/02/at-the-pad-elon-musk-sizes-up-the-falcon-heavys-chance-of-success/ |url-status=live }}{{cite news |url=https://www.geekwire.com/2018/elon-musk-explains-spacexs-falcon-heavy-rocket-risky-revolutionary/ |last1=Boyle |first1=Alan |title=Elon Musk explains why SpaceX's Falcon Heavy rocket is risky – and revolutionary |work=GeekWire |date=February 6, 2018 |access-date=February 6, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201109041100/https://www.geekwire.com/2018/elon-musk-explains-spacexs-falcon-heavy-rocket-risky-revolutionary/ |archive-date=November 9, 2020 |url-status=live }}

The launch was live streamed, and video feeds from space showed the Roadster at various angles, with Earth in the background, thanks to cameras placed inside and outside the car, on booms attached to the vehicle's custom adaptor atop the upper stage.{{cite tweet |last=Foust |first=Jeff |title=Musk: will be three cameras mounted on the Roadster, should provide "epic views" if all goes well. |user=jeff_foust |number=960632250500042752 |date=February 5, 2018 |language=en }}{{cite tweet |user=planet4589 |first=Jonathan |last=McDowell |author-link=Jonathan McDowell |number=961675763450830849 |date=February 8, 2018 |access-date=February 11, 2018 |title=I now have confirmation that the Tesla remains attached to the Falcon 2nd stage, which is being observed by asteroid experts}} Musk had estimated the car's battery would last over 12 hours, but the live stream ran for just over four hours, thus ending before the final boost out of Earth orbit.{{cite AV media |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aBr2kKAHN6M |via=YouTube |title=Live Views of Starman |access-date=February 7, 2018 |archive-date=February 7, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180207011450/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aBr2kKAHN6M |url-status=live }}{{cite news|url=https://www.space.com/39612-spacex-starman-tesla-roadster-live-views.html|title=Watch Live Views of SpaceX's Starman Riding a Tesla Roadster in Space!|last=Weitering|first=Hanneke|date=February 6, 2018|website=Space.com|access-date=February 6, 2018|archive-date=February 7, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180207004312/https://www.space.com/39612-spacex-starman-tesla-roadster-live-views.html|url-status=live}}{{cite news |title=This is what a Tesla Roadster looks like floating through space |url=https://www.cnbc.com/2018/02/06/this-is-what-a-tesla-roadster-looks-like-floating-through-space.html |access-date=February 7, 2018 |work=CNBC |date=February 6, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180207004334/https://www.cnbc.com/2018/02/06/this-is-what-a-tesla-roadster-looks-like-floating-through-space.html |archive-date=February 7, 2018 |url-status=live}} The images were released by SpaceX into the public domain on their Flickr account.{{cite web |author=Zhang |first=Michael |date=February 8, 2018 |title=This is the Last Photo of the Tesla That's Flying Away From Earth |url=https://petapixel.com/2018/02/08/last-photo-tesla-thats-flying-away-earth/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201109040755/https://petapixel.com/2018/02/08/last-photo-tesla-thats-flying-away-earth/ |archive-date=November 9, 2020 |access-date=February 18, 2018 |work=PetaPixel |quote=The photo was shared by billionaire Elon Musk on Instagram and SpaceX on Flickr. As you might remember, SpaceX began publishing all of its Flickr photos to the public domain in March 2015, leading Flickr to add a public domain designation just days later.}}{{cite web |url=https://www.geekwire.com/2015/elon-musk-makes-spacex-photos-free-for-public-use/ |title=Elon Musk makes SpaceX photos free for public use |work=GeekWire |first=Molly |last=Brown |date=March 23, 2015 |access-date=February 18, 2018 |archive-date=November 30, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201130161220/https://www.geekwire.com/2015/elon-musk-makes-spacex-photos-free-for-public-use/ |url-status=live}}

Following the launch, the rocket stage carrying the car was given the Satellite Catalog Number 43205, named "TESLA ROADSTER/FALCON 9H", along with the COSPAR designation 2018-017A.{{cite web |url=https://www.n2yo.com/satellite/?s=43205 |title=TESLA ROADSTER/FALCON 9H |website=N2YO.com |access-date=February 21, 2018 |archive-date=February 19, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180219203544/https://www.n2yo.com/satellite/?s=43205 |url-status=live }} The JPL Horizons system publishes solutions for the trajectory as target body "-143205".

The Roadster is in a heliocentric orbit that crosses the orbit of Mars and reaches a distance of {{nowrap|1.66 au}} from the Sun. With an inclination of roughly 1 degree to the ecliptic plane, compared to Mars' 1.85° inclination, this trajectory by design cannot intercept Mars, so the car will neither fly by Mars nor enter an orbit around Mars.{{cite web |last1=Plait |first1=Phil |title=Elon Musk: On the Roadster to Mars |url=http://www.syfy.com/syfywire/elon-musk-on-the-roadster-to-mars |website=Syfy Wire |access-date=December 7, 2017 |date=2017-12-02 |archive-date=January 29, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210129185324/https://www.syfy.com/syfywire/elon-musk-on-the-roadster-to-mars |url-status=live }} This was the second object launched by SpaceX to leave Earth orbit, after the DSCOVR mission to the Earth–Sun {{L1}} Lagrangian point. Nine months after launch, the Tesla had travelled beyond the orbit of Mars,{{cite web |last1=Nag |first1=Poulami |title=SpaceX Starman reaches beyond Mars in his cherry red Tesla Roadster |url=https://www.ibtimes.co.in/spacex-starman-reaches-beyond-mars-his-cherry-red-tesla-roadster-784728 |website=ibtimes.co.in |publisher=IB Times |access-date=5 November 2018 |date=2018-11-04 |archive-date=January 7, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210107071057/https://www.ibtimes.co.in/spacex-starman-reaches-beyond-mars-his-cherry-red-tesla-roadster-784728 |url-status=live }} reaching aphelion at 12:48 UTC on November 9, 2018, at a distance of {{cvt|248,892,559|km|au|sigfig=4}} from the Sun. The maximum speed of the car relative to the Sun will be approximately {{cvt|121,000|km/h}} at perihelion.{{cite web |url=https://where-is-tesla-roadster.space/live |title=Elon Musk's Tesla Roadster in Space – Live Position |first=Greg |last=Frieger |website=where-is-tesla-roadster.space |date=2018 |access-date=12 December 2018 |archive-date=February 20, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210220160904/https://where-is-tesla-roadster.space/live |url-status=live }} Select "Aug 15, 2019 Closest to the Sun (perihelion)" in the "Past and future events" section to view the predicted speed at that time.

Even if the rocket had targeted an actual Mars transfer orbit, the car could not have been placed into orbit around Mars, because the upper stage that carries it is not equipped with the necessary propellant, maneuvering, and communications capabilities. This flight simply demonstrated that Falcon Heavy is capable of launching significant payloads towards Mars in potential future missions.

The car in space quickly became a topic for Internet memes.{{cite news |url=http://technology.inquirer.net/72268/tesla-roadster-in-space-becomes-internets-new-favorite-meme |title=Tesla Roadster in space becomes internet's new favorite meme |first=Alfred |last=Bayle |newspaper=Philippine Daily Inquirer |date=7 February 2018 |access-date=10 February 2018 |archive-date=October 5, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201005164145/https://technology.inquirer.net/72268/tesla-roadster-in-space-becomes-internets-new-favorite-meme |url-status=live }}{{cite web |author=Baliūnaitė |first=Ilona |date=7 February 2018 |title=47 Of The Funniest Reactions To Elon Musk Sending Tesla Car To Mars |url=https://www.boredpanda.com/elon-musk-tesla-in-space-reactions/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200601021741/https://www.boredpanda.com/elon-musk-tesla-in-space-reactions/ |archive-date=June 1, 2020 |access-date=12 December 2018 |website=Bored Panda}} Western Australia Police distributed a picture of a radar gun aimed at the Roadster whilst above Australia.{{cite news|url=https://www.rtlnieuws.nl/opmerkelijk/hilarisch-australische-politie-slingert-ruimte-tesla-op-de-bon-vanwege-hoge-snelheid|title=Hilarisch: Australische politie slingert ruimte-Tesla op de bon vanwege hoge snelheid|trans-title=Hilarious: Australian Police send orbiting Tesla a speeding ticket|date=7 February 2018|access-date=16 February 2018|work=RTL Nieuws|language=nl|archive-date=July 31, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200731165918/https://www.rtlnieuws.nl/opmerkelijk/artikel/3846401/hilarisch-australische-politie-slingert-ruimte-tesla-op-de-bon-vanwege|url-status=live}}{{cite tweet |number=961057061042704384 |title=Ticket's in the post mate... 😉 #AnywhereAnytime #WAPoliceForce #FalconHeavy |user=WA_Police |author=Western Australia Police |author-link=Western Australia Police |date=7 February 2018 |access-date=16 February 2018}} Škoda produced a parody video of a Škoda Superb being driven to Mars, a village in central France.{{cite news |last1=Padeanu |first1=Adrian |title=Skoda Releases Video Proof Of Sending Superb To Mars |url=https://www.motor1.com/news/233075/skoda-superb-goes-to-mars/ |access-date=February 15, 2018 |work=Motor1.com |date=February 14, 2018 |language=en |archive-date=November 28, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201128122717/https://www.motor1.com/news/233075/skoda-superb-goes-to-mars/ |url-status=live }}{{cite video |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=79d0jxWZlds |title=#MissionToMars |author=Škoda France |via=Youtube |date=14 February 2018 |access-date=15 February 2018 |language=en,fr |archive-date=January 24, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210124030657/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=79d0jxWZlds |url-status=live }} An attempt was made by Donut Media to launch a Hot Wheels Tesla Model X to the stratosphere using a weather balloon.{{cite web|url=https://www.carscoops.com/2018/02/launching-tesla-model-x-toy-car-space-insanely-difficult-incredibly-hilarious/|title=Launching A Tesla Model X Toy Car Into Space Is Insanely Difficult, Incredibly Hilarious|first=Joel V.|last=Patel|date=27 February 2018|access-date=27 February 2018|work=Carscoops|archive-date=January 14, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210114123814/https://www.carscoops.com/2018/02/launching-tesla-model-x-toy-car-space-insanely-difficult-incredibly-hilarious/|url-status=live}}{{cite video|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2szjw6ZpJ4w|author=Donut Media|date=25 February 2018|access-date=27 February 2018|title=We Tried to Launch a Tesla to Space Too|via=Youtube|archive-date=November 10, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201110075633/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2szjw6ZpJ4w|url-status=live}} ToSky, a Russian start-up, sent a scale model of a Soviet-era Lada carrying a mannequin of Roscosmos head Dmitry Rogozin to an altitude of 20 km (12 miles) to gather test data for the design of stratostats.{{cite news |title=Russians send Soviet car model into stratosphere |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/blogs-news-from-elsewhere-48615344 |work=BBC News |date=12 June 2019 |access-date=June 13, 2019 |archive-date=December 28, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201228095432/https://www.bbc.com/news/blogs-news-from-elsewhere-48615344 |url-status=live }}

Some news reports observed a similarity between the real pictures of a car orbiting the Earth and the title sequence of the animated cult classic film Heavy Metal (1981), where a space traveler lands on Earth in a 1950s two-seater Chevrolet Corvette convertible.{{cite news |url=https://edge.ca/news/4011097/a-canadian-american-predicted-what-elon-musks-rocket-roadster-did-yesterday-in-1981/ |title=A Canadian-American predicted what Elon Musk's rocket roadster did yesterday—in 1981! |first=Alan |last=Cross |work=CFNY-FM |date=2018-02-07 |access-date=2018-02-11 |quote=picture is not fake [...] photo is from space [...] resemblance to the opening sequence of a Canadian-American adult animated movie from 1981 called Heavy Metal |archive-date=2020-06-13 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200613114306/https://edge.ca/news/4011097/a-canadian-american-predicted-what-elon-musks-rocket-roadster-did-yesterday-in-1981/ |url-status=live }}{{cite news |url=https://www.businessinsider.com/how-tesla-and-spacex-have-already-merged-2018-2 |title=The Falcon Heavy Roadster Launch reveals how Tesla and SpaceX are already beginning to merge |first=Matthew |last=DeBord |website=Business Insider UK |date=2018-02-10 |access-date=2018-02-11 |quote=Roadster orbiting Earth [...] like something out of the [...] opening sequence from the 1981 grownup animated movie "Heavy Metal" |archive-date=2018-10-23 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181023112633/http://uk.businessinsider.com/how-tesla-and-spacex-have-already-merged-2018-2 |url-status=live }}

The SpaceX launch live stream reached over 2.3 million concurrent viewers on YouTube, which made it the second most watched live event on the platform, behind another space-related event: Felix Baumgartner's jump from the stratosphere in 2012.{{Cite news|url=https://www.theverge.com/2018/2/6/16981730/spacex-falcon-heavy-launch-youtube-live-stream-record|title=SpaceX's Falcon Heavy launch was YouTube's second biggest live stream ever|last=Singleton|first=Micah|work=The Verge|date=6 February 2018|access-date=23 February 2018|language=en|archive-date=December 13, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201213132338/https://www.theverge.com/2018/2/6/16981730/spacex-falcon-heavy-launch-youtube-live-stream-record|url-status=live}}

The choice of the Roadster as a dummy payload was variously interpreted as marketing for Tesla, or a work of art, with some worrying about the risk to contamination of otherwise sterile solar system bodies. Some also commented on how the Roadster was not a space debris risk.

Musk was lauded as a savvy marketer and brand manager by controlling both the timing and the content of his corporate public relations.{{Cite magazine |last=Wnek |first=Mark |date=February 8, 2018 |title=There's Advertising and Marketing, and Then There's Elon Musk |url=http://adage.com/article/special-report-super-bowl/advertising-marketing-elon-musk/312307/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180212142636/http://adage.com/article/special-report-super-bowl/advertising-marketing-elon-musk/312307/ |archive-date=February 12, 2018 |access-date=February 12, 2018 |magazine=Ad Age}}{{Cite web |last=Matousek |first=Mark |date=February 7, 2018 |title=Tesla created the world's best car commercial without spending a dime on advertising |url=http://www.businessinsider.com/tesla-made-the-worlds-best-car-commercial-without-spending-money-2018-2 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180210062303/http://www.businessinsider.com/tesla-made-the-worlds-best-car-commercial-without-spending-money-2018-2 |archive-date=February 10, 2018 |access-date=February 12, 2018 |website=Business Insider}}{{Cite magazine |title= The mega-rich have ambitious plans to improve the world; Should that be a cause for celebration or concern? |date= February 8, 2018 |magazine= The Economist |url= https://www.economist.com/news/leaders/21736517-should-be-cause-celebration-or-concern-mega-rich-have-ambitious-plans-improve |access-date= February 12, 2018 |archive-date= February 12, 2018 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20180212031546/https://www.economist.com/news/leaders/21736517-should-be-cause-celebration-or-concern-mega-rich-have-ambitious-plans-improve |url-status= live }} After the launch, Scientific American said using a car was not entirely pointless, in the sense that something of that size and weight was necessary for a meaningful test.{{Cite magazine |url= https://blogs.scientificamerican.com/observations/elon-musk-does-it-again/ |title= Elon Musk Does It Again; His Falcon Heavy rocket lifts off on the first try, puts a Tesla auto into orbit—and maybe changes the business of space commerce and exploration forever |first= Lee |last= Billings |date= February 6, 2018 |magazine= Scientific American |url-status= live |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20180209230841/https://blogs.scientificamerican.com/observations/elon-musk-does-it-again/ |archive-date= February 9, 2018 |df= mdy-all }}

Advertising Age agreed with Business Insider that the Roadster space launch was the "greatest ever car commercial without a dime spent on advertising", demonstrating that Musk is "miles ahead of the rest" in reaching young consumers, where "mere mortals scrabble about spending millions to fight each other over seconds of air time", Musk "just executes his vision." Alex Hern, technology reporter for The Guardian, said the choice to launch a car was a "hybrid of genuine breakthrough and nerd-baiting publicity stunt" without "any real point beyond generating good press pics", which should not detract from the much more important technological milestone represented by the launch of the rocket itself.{{Cite news |last=Hern |first=Alex |date=February 7, 2018 |title=Forget the car in space: why Elon Musk's reusable rockets are more than a publicity stunt; The onboard Tesla Roadster grabbed the headlines, but the real success of this week's space adventure was the Falcon Heavy launch vehicle |url=https://www.theguardian.com/science/shortcuts/2018/feb/07/forget-the-car-in-space-why-elon-musks-reusable-rockets-are-more-than-a-publicity-stunt |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180207200649/https://www.theguardian.com/science/shortcuts/2018/feb/07/forget-the-car-in-space-why-elon-musks-reusable-rockets-are-more-than-a-publicity-stunt |archive-date=February 7, 2018 |newspaper=The Guardian |issn=0261-3077}}

Lori Garver, a former NASA deputy director, initially said the choice of payload for the Falcon Heavy maiden flight is a gimmick and a loss of opportunity to further advance science—but later clarified that "I was told by a SpaceX VP (vice president) at the launch that they offered free launches to NASA, Air Force etc. but got no takers."{{cite news |url= https://www.standard.co.uk/news/world/spacex-falcon-heavy-launch-nothing-more-than-a-gimmick-says-former-nasa-deputy-administrator-lori-a3762376.html |title= Elon Musk's SpaceX Falcon Heavy launch was just a gimmick, says former NASA boss Lori Garver |newspaper= Evening Standard |first= Alexandra |last= Richards |date= 2018-02-09 |access-date= 2018-02-09 |url-status= live |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20180209194810/https://www.standard.co.uk/news/world/spacex-falcon-heavy-launch-nothing-more-than-a-gimmick-says-former-nasa-deputy-administrator-lori-a3762376.html |archive-date= February 9, 2018 |df= mdy-all }}

Musk responded to the critics by stating he wanted to inspire the public about the "possibility of something new happening in space," as part of his larger vision for spreading humanity to other planets.{{cite news |url=https://www.businessinsider.com/why-elon-musk-launched-tesla-mars-falcon-heavy-2018-3 |title=Elon Musk explains why he launched a car toward Mars — and the reasons are much bigger than his ego |work=Business Insider |first=Dave |last=Mosher |date=March 13, 2018 |access-date=September 19, 2018 |archive-date=December 9, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201209151139/https://www.businessinsider.com/why-elon-musk-launched-tesla-mars-falcon-heavy-2018-3 |url-status=live }}

File:Elon Musk's Tesla Roadster (40110297852).jpg

The Verge likened the Roadster to a "ready-made" work of art, such as Marcel Duchamp's 1917 piece Fountain, created by placing an everyday object in an unusual position, context and orientation.{{cite news|url=https://www.theverge.com/2018/2/10/16997124/elon-musk-spacex-tesla-art-starman-advertising|title=Elon Musk made history launching a car into space. Did he make art too?|first=Kyle|last=Chayka|date=February 10, 2018|quote=a staggering image [...] and so impressive that the video seems somehow unreal. It's the greatest car {{abbr|ad|advert}} of all time. [...] In 1917, Marcel Duchamp put a urinal on a pedestal, titled it Fountain [...] and called it art. [...] a readymade, his word for a combination of everyday objects reassembled or re-contextualized by an artist.|access-date=February 11, 2018|archive-date=November 9, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201109032552/https://www.theverge.com/2018/2/10/16997124/elon-musk-spacex-tesla-art-starman-advertising|url-status=live}}

Alice Gorman, a lecturer in archaeology and space studies at Flinders University in Australia, said that the Roadster's primary purpose is symbolic communication, that "the red sports car symbolises masculinity – power, wealth and speed{{Cite web |last=David |first=Leonard |date=2018-02-09 |title=Tesla Roadster Gets Interplanetary ID |url=https://www.space.com/39646-tesla-roadster-gets-interplanetary-id.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180220092347/https://www.space.com/39646-tesla-roadster-gets-interplanetary-id.html |archive-date=2018-02-20 |access-date= |website=Space.com}} – but also how fragile masculinity is". Drawing on anthropological theories of symbols, she argues that "the car is also an armour against dying, a talisman that quells a profound fear of mortality". Gorman wrote that "the spacesuit is also about death. ... The Starman was never alive, but now he's haunting space".{{cite web |last=Gorman |first=Alice |author-link1=Alice Gorman |date=2018-02-07 |title=A sports car and a glitter ball are now in space – what does that say about us as humans? |url=http://theconversation.com/a-sports-car-and-a-glitter-ball-are-now-in-space-what-does-that-say-about-us-as-humans-91156 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180215083839/http://theconversation.com/a-sports-car-and-a-glitter-ball-are-now-in-space-what-does-that-say-about-us-as-humans-91156 |archive-date=February 15, 2018 |access-date=2018-02-15 |work=The Conversation |publication-place=Flinders University}}

Orbital debris expert Darren McKnight stated that the car poses no risk because it is far from Earth orbit. He added: "The enthusiasm and interest that [Musk] generates more than offsets the infinitesimally small 'littering' of the cosmos."{{Cite web |last=David |first=Leonard |date=2018-02-05 |title=Is the Tesla Roadster Flying on the Falcon Heavy's Maiden Flight Just Space Junk? |url=https://www.space.com/39602-falcon-heavy-tesla-not-just-space-junk.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180206182537/https://www.space.com/39602-falcon-heavy-tesla-not-just-space-junk.html |archive-date=2018-02-06 |access-date= |website=Space.com}} Tommy Sanford, director of the Commercial Spaceflight Federation, said that the car and its rocket stage are no more "space junk" than the mundane material usually launched on other test flights. Mass simulators are often deliberately placed in a graveyard orbit or sent on a deep space trajectory, where they are not a hazard.{{cite web |url=https://mashable.com/2018/02/08/elon-musk-tesla-roadster-not-typical-space-junk/ |title=Elon Musk's 'Starman' Tesla Roadster isn't your typical piece of space junk |first=Mark |last=Kaufman |website=Mashable |date=February 8, 2018 |access-date=February 15, 2018 |archive-date=February 9, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180209085320/https://mashable.com/2018/02/08/elon-musk-tesla-roadster-not-typical-space-junk/ |url-status=live }}

The Planetary Society was concerned that launching a non-sterile object to interplanetary space may risk biological contamination of a foreign world.[https://www.planetary.org/articles/20180205-space-tesla Let's talk about Elon Musk launching his Tesla into space] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190630211257/http://www.planetary.org/blogs/jason-davis/2018/20180205-space-tesla.html |date=June 30, 2019 }}. Jason Davis, The Planetary Society. 5 February 2018. Scientists at Purdue University noted that the vehicle will be sterilized by solar radiation over time and the vehicle is most likely to hit the Earth in the future, though some bacteria might survive on some components of the vehicle which could contaminate Mars in the distant future if it were to hit Mars instead.{{cite web |author=Szondy |first=David |date=February 27, 2018 |title=Tesla in space could carry bacteria from Earth |url=https://www.purdue.edu/newsroom/releases/2018/Q1/tesla-in-space-could-carry-bacteria-from-earth.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201020220507/https://www.purdue.edu/newsroom/releases/2018/Q1/tesla-in-space-could-carry-bacteria-from-earth.html |archive-date=October 20, 2020 |access-date=October 24, 2020 |work=Purdue University}}

The car and the upper stage were passivated by intentionally removing remaining chemical and electrical energy, at which point they ceased transmitting telemetry. The car was observered by Australian astronomer Peter Starr using a 0.43m Planewave telescope at Dubbo Observatory, NSW. Based on these observations and refinement of the orbit, a close re-encounter with Earth (originally predicted for 2073) is not possible.{{cite web|first1=Marco|last1=Langbroek|first2=Peter|last2=Starr|url=https://sattrackcam.blogspot.co.uk/2018/02/starman-falcon-heavytesla-roadster-2018.html|title=Starman (Falcon Heavy/Tesla Roadster) 2018-017A imaged in Space|date=9 February 2018|access-date=9 February 2018|quote=images were taken, 16:39-16:50 UT on 8 February 2018 [...] distance of 550 000 km or about 1.4 Lunar distances c.q. 0.0037 AU [...] 30-second exposures taken by Peter Starr and me with the 0.43-m F6.8 remote robotic telescope of Dubbo Observatory in Australia [...] 2073 close encounter [...] is no longer on the table.|archive-date=February 10, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180210065005/https://sattrackcam.blogspot.co.uk/2018/02/starman-falcon-heavytesla-roadster-2018.html|url-status=live}} In October 2020 the car made a close approach to Mars, about {{convert|5|e6mi|sigfig=1|order=flip|abbr=off}} away, at which distance Mars's gravity had no significant effect on the Roadster's orbit.{{cite news |url=https://www.cnn.com/2020/10/08/cars/spacex-tesla-mars-starman-scn-trnd/index.html |title=SpaceX's Tesla roadster made its first close approach with Mars |work=CNN |first=Allen |last=Kim |date=October 8, 2020 |access-date=April 26, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201126031149/https://www.cnn.com/2020/10/08/cars/spacex-tesla-mars-starman-scn-trnd/index.html |archive-date=2020-11-26 |url-status=live}}

The Virtual Telescope Project observed the Tesla two days after its launch, where it had an apparent magnitude of 15.5,{{cite web |last=Masi |first=Gianluca |author-link=Gianluca Masi |date=2018-02-08 |title=Elon Musk's Tesla Roadster imaged and filmed! |url=https://www.virtualtelescope.eu/2018/02/08/elon-musks-tesla-roadster-imaged-8-feb-2018/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180209045535/https://www.virtualtelescope.eu/2018/02/08/elon-musks-tesla-roadster-imaged-8-feb-2018/ |archive-date=February 9, 2018 |access-date=2018-02-09 |website=virtualtelescope.eu}} comparable to that of Pluto's moon Charon. The Roadster was automatically spotted and logged by the Asteroid Terrestrial-impact Last Alert System (ATLAS) telescope operated by the University of Hawaiʻi.{{cite press release |title=UH ATLAS telescope spots SpaceX Tesla Roadster in flight |date=8 February 2018 |publisher=University of Hawaiʻi |url=http://www.hawaii.edu/news/2018/02/09/atlas-telescope-spots-tesla-roadster/ |quote=ATLAS was not looking for the Roadster—it was found during routine observations and automatically identified as a near-Earth object. |last=Denneau |first=Larry |access-date=11 February 2018 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180211215644/http://www.hawaii.edu/news/2018/02/09/atlas-telescope-spots-tesla-roadster/ |archive-date=February 11, 2018}} The car was observed by the Deimos Sky Survey (DeSS) at a distance of {{cvt|720,000|km}} with a flashing effect suggesting spinning.{{cite web|url=http://www.elecnor-deimos.com/images-spacex-starman-tesla-deimos-sky-survey|title=New images of SpaceX's Starman Tesla|date=2018-02-09|access-date=2018-02-11|publisher=Elecnor Deimos|quote=captured the vehicle at a distance of 720.000 km from Earth ... show a flickering effect that suggests that the Tesla Roadster is spinning fast.|archive-date=February 12, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180212083218/http://www.elecnor-deimos.com/images-spacex-starman-tesla-deimos-sky-survey|url-status=dead}}

{{wide image|Telescopic images of 2018-017A (Falcon Heavy upper stage with Tesla Roadster and Starman) moving through space2.png|800px|Roadster photographed with a 0.43 m telescope of Dubbo Observatory in Australia, on 8 February 2018, 16:29–16:50 UTC, at a distance of 550,000 km (1.4 Lunar distances) from Earth. Varying brightness suggests spinning.|alt=Mostly black photograph with small white dots of varying sizes making up a starfield, dated as 8 February 2018. Four white dots in a line are each circled in red and labelled with a timestamp at giving the position of the Tesla Roadster as it moves across the sky at four minute intervals.}}

Through measuring changes in apparent brightness of the object, astronomers have determined that the Roadster is rotating with a period of 4.7589 ± 0.0060 minutes (i.e. 4 minutes, 46 seconds).{{cite web|url=https://www.popularmechanics.com/space/satellites/a17762760/heres-exactly-how-fast-elon-musks-tesla-is-spinning-in-space/|title=Here's Exactly How Fast Elon Musk's Tesla Is Spinning In Space|date=February 13, 2018|access-date=February 13, 2018|archive-date=February 14, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180214014740/https://www.popularmechanics.com/space/satellites/a17762760/heres-exactly-how-fast-elon-musks-tesla-is-spinning-in-space/|url-status=live}} By February 11, 2018, astrometry measurements from 241 independent observations had been collated, refining the positions to within one-tenth of an arcsecond and published by the SeeSat-L mailing list, a group of amateur satellite spotters—more accurate than for most observations of objects in space.{{cite web|url=http://www.satobs.org/seesat/Feb-2018/0117.html|title=Re: Tesla roadster and booster observations|first=Bill|last=Gray|date=2018-02-11|via=SeeSat-L mailing list|quote=list of 241 observations and growing [...] continue to be observed for about two weeks. [...] know the position of this object to better than a tenth of an arcsecond, [...] Almost nobody is getting data that accurate.|access-date=February 14, 2018|archive-date=February 14, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180214073816/http://www.satobs.org/seesat/Feb-2018/0117.html|url-status=live}}

In 2025, the object was erroneously parsed as a new asteroid by a citizen astronomer going through archival Catalina Sky Survey data and given the designation 2018 CN41 by the Minor Planet Center.{{cite news |last1=Zastrow |first1=Mark |title=An asteroid got deleted because it was actually Elon Musk's Tesla Roadster |url=https://www.astronomy.com/science/astronomers-just-deleted-an-asteroid-because-it-turned-out-to-be-elon-musks-tesla-roadster/ |access-date=25 January 2025 |work=Astronomy Magazine |date=22 January 2025}}{{cite web |title=MPEC 2025-A38 : 2018 CN41 |url=https://minorplanetcenter.net/mpec/K25/K25A38.html |website=minorplanetcenter.net |publisher=Center for Astrophysics |access-date=25 January 2025}} The object was correctly identified as the roadster eighteen hours later and deleted from the Minor Planet Center's archives.{{cite web |title=MPEC 2025-A49 : EDITORIAL NOTICE: DELETION OF 2018 CN41 |url=https://minorplanetcenter.net/mpec/K25/K25A49.html |website=minorplanetcenter.net |publisher=Center for Astrophysics |access-date=25 January 2025}}{{cite news |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/space/tesla-car-space-asteroid-earth-elon-musk-b2689028.html |title=Newly discovered 'asteroid' near Earth turns out to be Elon Musk's Tesla car |work=The Independent |first=Vishwam |last=Sankaran |date=January 28, 2025 |access-date=February 27, 2025}}

The roadster made its first close approach to Mars on October 7, 2020. The next close approach to Earth will be in the year 2047 at a distance of 5 million kilometers, about 13 times the distance between Earth and the Moon. Simulations over a 3-million-year timespan found a probability of the Roadster colliding with Earth at approximately 6%, or with Venus at approximately 2.5%. These probabilities of collision are similar to those of other near-Earth objects. The half-life for the tested orbits was calculated as approximately 20 million years, but with trajectories varying significantly following a close approach to the Earth–Moon system in 2091.{{cite journal|last1=Rein|first1=Hanno|last2=Tamayo|first2=Daniel|last3=Vokrouhlicky|first3=David|title=The random walk of cars and their collision probabilities with planets|journal=Aerospace|volume=5|issue=2|pages=57|arxiv=1802.04718|date=13 February 2018|doi=10.3390/aerospace5020057|bibcode=2018Aeros...5...57R|s2cid=119328461|doi-access=free}}

Musk had originally speculated that the car could drift in space for a billion years.{{cite tweet |user=elonmusk |author-link=Elon Musk |number=936782477502246912 |title=Payload will be my midnight cherry Tesla Roadster playing Space Oddity. Destination is Mars orbit. Will be in deep space for a billion years or so if it doesn't blow up on ascent. |date=December 2, 2017 |access-date=February 20, 2018}} According to chemist William Carroll, solar radiation, cosmic radiation, and micrometeoroid impacts will structurally degrade the car over time. Radiation will eventually break down any material with carbon–carbon bonds, including carbon fiber parts. Tires, paint, plastic and leather might have lasted only about a year, while carbon fiber parts will last considerably longer. Eventually, only the aluminum frame, inert metals, and glass not shattered by meteoroids will remain.{{cite web |last1=Lezter |first1=Rafi |title=Radiation Will Tear Elon Musk's Rocket Car to Bits in a Year |url=https://www.livescience.com/61680-will-spacex-roadster-survive-in-space.html |website=LiveScience |date=February 6, 2018 |access-date=February 7, 2018 |archive-date=December 6, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201206084933/https://www.livescience.com/61680-will-spacex-roadster-survive-in-space.html |url-status=live }}

In August 2019, as the Roadster completed its first orbit around the Sun,{{cite web |author=Wall |first=Mike |date=August 20, 2019 |title=SpaceX's Starman and Elon Musk's Tesla Have Made a Lap Around the Sun |url=https://www.space.com/spacex-starman-tesla-falcon-heavy-first-orbit-sun.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201204220633/https://www.space.com/spacex-starman-tesla-falcon-heavy-first-orbit-sun.html |archive-date=December 4, 2020 |access-date=August 20, 2019 |work=space.com}} Musk stated that SpaceX may one day launch a small spacecraft or Starship to catch up with the Roadster and take photographs or even return it to Earth for studying solar erosion on it just as Apollo 12 did with Surveyor 3 lander's components.{{cite web |author=Brown |first=Mike |date=August 19, 2019 |title=Where Is Starman? Elon Musk Teases SpaceX Mission to Catch Up With Roadster |url=https://www.inverse.com/article/58602-where-is-starman-elon-musk-teases-spacex-mission-to-catch-up-with-roadster |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190819215539/https://www.inverse.com/article/58602-where-is-starman-elon-musk-teases-spacex-mission-to-catch-up-with-roadster |archive-date=August 19, 2019 |access-date=August 20, 2019 |work=inverse.com}}

• List of artificial objects in heliocentric orbit
• List of passive satellites

{{Reflist}}

{{Commons category|Elon Musk's Tesla Roadster}}

• {{cite web |url= https://youtube.com/watch?v=aBr2kKAHN6M |title= Live Views of Starman (4:13:10) |date= Feb 6, 2018 |publisher= SpaceX |website= YouTube }}
• {{citation |url= https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Animated_GIF_of_telescopic_im,ages_showing_Falcon_Heavy_stage,_Tesla_Roadster,_Starman_moving_through_space.gif |display-authors= 0 |first1= Marco |last1= Langbroek |first2= Peter |last2= Star |date= Feb 9, 2018 |title= 0.43-m F6.8 Planewave telescope, Dubbo, AU |quote= Loop of 4 frames of Roadster moving across the sky |website= Wikimedia Commons }}
• {{cite web |url= https://youtube.com/watch?v=m4r54ODsOM0 |title= Starman cruising through space (00:12) |date= Feb 11, 2018 |display-authors= 0 |first= Rogelio Bernal |last= Andreo |website= YouTube }}
• {{cite journal |journal= Aerospace |volume= 5 |issue= 2 |page= 57 |date= Feb 13, 2018 |title= Random walk of cars and their collision probabilities with planets |arxiv= 1802.04718v2 |display-authors= 0 |first1= Hanno |last1= Rein |first2= Daniel |last2= Tamayo |first3= David |last3= Vokrouhlicky |doi= 10.3390/aerospace5020057 |bibcode= 2018Aeros...5...57R |doi-access= free }}

Trajectory animation, past and future events, orbital elements.

• {{cite web |display-authors= 0 |first= Greg |last= Frieger |url= https://where-is-tesla-roadster.space/live |website= Where is Tesla Roadster |title= Where in Space is Tesla Roadster |date= Mar 27, 2018 |series= Unaffiliated }}
• {{cite web |display-authors= 0 |first= Ben |last= Pearson |url= https://whereisroadster.com |website= Where is Roadster |title= Where is Starman? Track Elon Musk's Tesla Roadster in Space! |date= Feb 7, 2018 |series= Unaffiliated }}

{{Elon Musk}}

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{{Orbital launches in 2018}}{{Portal bar|Cars|Spaceflight}}

Category:Individual cars

Category:Tesla vehicles

Tesla Roadster

Category:Derelict satellites in heliocentric orbit

Category:Message artifacts

Category:Spacecraft launched in 2018

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Category:Found object

Category:Publicity stunts

Category:Passive satellites

Category:Space debris

Category:SpaceX spacecraft