Elon Musk’s Tesla Mistaken for Asteroid in Space Tracking Error

Astronomers initially identified the Tesla Roadster launched in 2018 as a near-Earth asteroid before correcting the mistake within a day.

An amateur astronomer reported what appeared to be a near-Earth asteroid, designated 2018 CN41, which came closer to Earth than the Moon's orbit.
Further analysis revealed the object was Elon Musk’s Tesla Roadster, launched aboard SpaceX’s Falcon Heavy rocket in 2018 as a test payload.
The Minor Planet Center (MPC) promptly retracted the asteroid designation after confirming the object’s artificial origin using orbital data.
The incident highlights challenges in distinguishing artificial objects from natural celestial bodies due to incomplete tracking databases for human-made space debris.
Experts emphasize the need for improved collaboration and data sharing among space agencies and private companies to enhance space object identification and management.