In 2018, Elon Musk’s SpaceX demonstrated the Falcon Heavy launch system with a successful test flight that also sent Musk’s 2008 Tesla Roadster into space complete with a space suit-dummy named Starman in the driver’s seat. Now, more than two years later, Starman and his cherry red car have arrived on Mars. In October, SpaceX shared on social media that Starman had taken his first close approach to the Red Planet.
“Starman, last seen leaving Earth, made his first approach to Mars today – within 0.05 astronomical units, or less than 5 million miles, from the Red Planet,” said the SpaceX post.
Starman, last seen leaving Earth, made his first approach to Mars today – within 0.05 astronomical units, or less than 5 million miles, from the Red Planet pic.twitter.com/gV8barFTm7
– SpaceX (@SpaceX) October 7, 2020
What is interesting here is that SpaceX notes that it is the “first approach” to Mars and, in fact, Spaceman is expected to come even closer in the future. According to Ben Pearson, who developed an unofficial online tracker for Starman and the Roadster (via CNET), Tesla will pass much, much closer to 1.4 million miles on April 22, 2035. It will pass through Earth in 2047.
While it is fascinating that the Roadster comes so close to Mars, don’t expect any photos to come from such close encounters. Although there are cameras inside and outside the vehicle, the vehicle’s battery has died. Musk had initially estimated that the Roadster’s battery would last more than 12 hours, but in fact it only seemed to work for 4 hours, which means that Starman has been in space since then.
And both the Starman and the Roadster probably look quite different than in the last images sent to Earth. Living Science noted earlier that strong solar radiation in space had probably disintegrated most of the exposed organic materials – think of things like red paint, tires, leather seats, etc. Eventually, it is believed that the Roadster will be reduced to simply an aluminum frame and perhaps part of the glass, as long as they survive the impact with the passage of stones and debris.
What do you think of Starman’s continued journey into space? Let us know your opinion in the comments.