A near-Earth object recently classified as an asteroid has been identified as Elon Musk’s Tesla Roadster, which was launched into space in 2018 aboard a SpaceX Falcon Heavy rocket. The object was mistakenly listed as a new near-Earth asteroid by the International Astronomical Union’s Minor Planet Center (MPC) on January 2, before the classification was withdrawn within hours. The error, made by an amateur astronomer in Turkey using publicly available data, underscores growing concerns over the tracking of space debris and its impact on astronomical observations.

Identification Error and Retraction

According to astronomy.com, the object was initially recorded in the MPC’s database under the designation 2018 CN41. The classification was based on historical tracking data, but after a review, the discovery was rescinded just 17 hours later. The astronomer who reported the object recognised the mistake upon further analysis.

The Tesla Roadster was launched on February 6, 2018, as a test payload for SpaceX’s Falcon Heavy’s maiden flight. Positioned in the driver’s seat was a mannequin named “Starman,” dressed in a prototype spacesuit. The car was intended to enter a stable orbit around Mars but instead settled into a heliocentric orbit, periodically passing near Earth and Mars.

Implications for Space Tracking

Jonathan McDowell, an astronomer at the Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics, told astronomy.com that the misidentification of human-made objects as natural space bodies is becoming more frequent. He warned that such mistakes could lead to significant financial losses, stating that the worst-case scenario was that a billion dollars were spent launching a space probe to study an asteroid, only to realise it’s not an asteroid when you get there.

Over the years, multiple spacecraft and discarded rocket boosters have been temporarily classified as asteroids. Among them are the European Space Agency’s Rosetta spacecraft, NASA’s Lucy probe, and the European-Japanese BepiColombo mission. With the increasing number of space missions, experts anticipate that misidentifications will become more common.

Lack of Regulations on Deep Space Debris

As per reports, space agencies and private companies are required to track satellites and debris in Earth’s orbit. However, no regulatory framework mandates tracking objects that have moved beyond Earth’s gravity, such as the Tesla Roadster. In a 2024 statement, the American Astronomical Society called for transparency in tracking space objects to minimise interference with scientific observations and prevent potential collisions. With space exploration accelerating, concerns over orbital debris and misidentified objects continue to grow, reinforcing the need for stricter monitoring and classification systems.g

Dozens of people have died after an American Airlines passenger plane was in a mid-air crash with a military helicopter in Washington DC.

Sixty-four people were on the plane and there were three US soldiers in the helicopter.

Forty bodies have been recovered from the wreckage. No survivors are expected to be found.

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The crash, which happened as the jet sought to land at Ronald Reagan National Airport, is the worst civil aviation disaster in the US since 2001.

Here’s what we know about the passengers so far.

Pilots and a professor

The family of one of the American Airlines pilots killed in the crash has named him as Jonathan Campos.

His first officer, Samuel Lilley, was confirmed dead by his father Tim, who said he was due to get married this autumn.

“It is so devastating to lose someone who is loved so much,” he wrote on social media.

The parents of passenger Kiah Duggins also confirmed she was on board.

They said: “We are coming to terms with the grief associated with the loss of our beautiful and accomplished first-born. Please respect our family’s privacy at this time.”

Howard University, where Ms Duggins worked as a law professor, also asked for privacy and respect “during this difficult time”.

Raza Hussain told NBC News his wife Azra was also among those killed – and she was texting him just 20 minutes before she was due to land.

He said she told him “we’re landing in 20 minutes” and that he “had dinner waiting at home” before the collision.

The 26-year-old worked as a consultant in Washington DC and was married to her college sweetheart.

Paying tribute to her, he said: “My wife was such a giver. She made me feel so loved.”

Liz Keys was confirmed as another of the crash victims by her partner David Seidman, who she met at law school.

She worked as an attorney and was part of a sailing team in her spare time. The day of her crash is reported to have been her birthday.

Pergentino Malabed Jr was a police officer from the Phillippines who was in the US on work duties when he was killed in the crash.

The Philippine National Police said in a statement: “His untimely passing is a profound loss to the PNP, where he served with honour, integrity, and dedication throughout his career.”

Helicopter pilot and flight attendants

Helicopter pilot Andrew Eaves was confirmed dead by his wife Carrie on social media.

She said Mr Eaves was “one of the pilots in the Blackhawk”, asking people to share their pictures of him in his memory. Mississippi Governor Tate Reeves also confirmed he was killed in the crash.

Ian Epstein, 53, and Danasia Brown, 34, were two of the flight attendants on board the American Airlines flight, according to their families.

A statement from the Epstein family said Mr Epstein “loved being a flight attendant because he truly enjoyed travelling and meeting new people”, adding that “his true love was his family”.

Ms Brown’s older brother Dajour set up a crowdfunding page to help support her husband and two children, aged four and 13.

“Anything donated will go towards her kids and husband that’s left behind,” he wrote.

Up to 14 members of US figure skating community

Several figure skating organisations have said that athletes were on the American Airlines jet.

One of those was 12-year-old Olivia Ter, who was described as “beloved” and an “exceptional youth figure skater”.

The Parks Department in Prince George’s County, Maryland, confirmed Olivia’s death on Thursday night.

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It said she was one of four elite skaters from the region attending a development camp in Wichita, Kansas.

“The impact of Olivia’s life will continue to resonate in our youth sports community, and she will be sorely missed,” a department director, Bill Tyler, said.

“We extend our deepest condolences to the Ter family, friends, teammates, and all those affected by this devastating loss.”

Meanwhile, The Skating Club of Boston also named members of its community who were on the American Airlines jet in a statement posted on Instagram.

They include athlete Jinna Han and her mother Jin Han, athlete Spencer Lane and his mother Christine Lane, and coaches Vadim Naumov and Yevgenia Shishkova, a married couple who won the world championships in pairs figure skating in 1994.

Reports of the couple being on board the jet were confirmed by the Kremlin.

As many as 14 American members of the community are feared dead, said Doug Zeghibe, Skating Club of Boston’s chief executive.

“To the best of our knowledge, 14 skaters returning home from the national development camp at Wichita, Kansas, put on by US figure skating, were lost in the plane crash at Washington DC,” he said.

“Of those 14 skaters, six were from the Skating Club of Boston. Two coaches and two teenage athletes, and two of the athletes’ mums.

“It’s a major loss for our skating community.”

US Figure Skating confirmed several members were on the American Airlines flight.

“We are devastated by this unspeakable tragedy and hold the victims’ families closely in our hearts,” it said in a statement.

“We will continue to monitor the situation and will release more information as it becomes available.”

A man who said his daughter’s best friend and her mother were on the jet when it crashed told Sky News they had been at an “athletic trip” in Kansas.

Russian world champions

According to US media, Shishkova, 52, and Naumov, 55, had lived in America since at least 1998, where they trained young ice skaters.

Their son, Maxim, 23, who had been competing in the US figure skating championships in Wichita, was also feared to be on the plane. But his friend and fellow skater Anton Spiridonov has reportedly said he left four days ago.

The couple were reported to have been returning from the competition and travelling with a group of young skaters.

Inna Volyanskaya, a former skater who competed for the Soviet Union, was also reported to have been on board, Russian state media said. She was a coach at the Washington figure skating club, according to its website.

“We regret and offer condolences to the families and friends who lost those of our fellow citizens who died in this plane crash,” Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said.

Skaters confirm safety

US-Russian figure skater Spiridonov has confirmed he was not on the plane, despite reports suggesting he was.

Russian media had named him among the casualties, he said in an Instagram post.

“I was NOT on this flight, thank you for everyone’s concern for my safety,” the Winter World University Games silver medallist wrote.

“My heart goes out to all the families affected by this tragedy.”

Cristian McKnight-Ide, a professional skater, said in a Facebook post: “Thank you for those who have reached out regarding the flight from Wichita that crashed. Scarlet and I are home safe since early this afternoon.

“We are all praying for the safety of our fellow skaters that were on that flight.”

Anne Goldberg-Baldwin, also a skater, said she was “safe” as she asked her followers to pray for her loved ones in a story on Instagram.