On February 6, 2018, something amazing happened. SpaceX launched the Falcon Heavy rocket, and with it, a mannequin named Starman sitting in a Tesla Roadster was sent into space. For six hours, Starman orbited Earth, taking stunning pictures before the rocket’s upper stage pushed the car into an orbit around the sun. But where is Starman now, and could he ever come back to Earth? Let’s dive into the journey Starman has been on and explore if and when he might return.
After Starman left Earth’s orbit, scientists and space enthusiasts worldwide used their telescopes to track the Roadster and predict its path. A team at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) used data from SpaceX to estimate that Starman would pass by Earth again in 2091, coming within a few thousand kilometers. However, this prediction was based on limited data, so it became less accurate over time.
In March of this year, a telescope in South Africa helped refine these predictions. With this new data, JPL could map out Starman’s journey for the next 50 years. They found that Starman would pass by Mars in 2020, coming within 4.5 million miles. Unfortunately, our current telescopes on Mars aren’t powerful enough to see the Roadster from that distance. However, in 2035, Starman will get even closer to Mars, within 1.5 million miles, and by then, we might have better telescopes to spot him.
Starman will make his closest approach to Earth in 2047, passing by at just 3 million miles. At this distance, telescopes on Earth should be able to see the Roadster and track its position, helping us make more accurate predictions for the future.
What if we could catch Starman during one of these close approaches? Retrieving objects from space isn’t a new idea. The Space Shuttle once brought back faulty satellites using its large payload bay. Astronauts even used jetpacks and robotic arms to capture satellites and return them to Earth.
However, bringing something back from beyond Earth’s orbit is much harder and requires a lot more energy. For example, a Japanese spacecraft launched in 2014 traveled to an asteroid 180 million miles away, collected samples, and planned to return them to Earth in 2020. Although the Roadster is much heavier, SpaceX’s Starship could potentially retrieve it. Starship could refuel in Earth’s orbit, match the Roadster’s orbit, capture it, and bring it back to Earth.
So, maybe one day, the generation that watched the Falcon Heavy launch will see Starman and his Roadster return to Earth. Or perhaps it’s more fitting to let him continue his journey through the solar system, serving as a symbol of human achievement and exploration.
Research and create a timeline that highlights the key events in Starman’s journey since the launch in 2018. Include predicted future encounters with Earth and Mars. Use visuals and dates to make your timeline engaging and informative.
Imagine you are a software developer tasked with creating an app to track Starman’s journey. Sketch out the design and features of your app, considering how it would display Starman’s current location and future trajectory. Share your design with the class.
Participate in a class debate on whether we should attempt to bring Starman back to Earth or let him continue his journey. Prepare arguments for both sides, considering the technological, financial, and symbolic implications of each option.
Write a creative short story imagining Starman’s return to Earth. Consider how it might happen, who would be involved, and what the public reaction would be. Share your story with the class and discuss the different scenarios envisioned by your classmates.
Work in groups to build a model of the Falcon Heavy rocket and the Tesla Roadster with Starman. Use materials like cardboard, paper, and paint to create a detailed and accurate representation. Present your model to the class and explain the significance of the launch.
On February 6, 2018, the Falcon Heavy launched Starman in a Tesla Roadster into space. During this spectacular event, Starman orbited the Earth for six hours, capturing beautiful images before the Falcon Heavy upper stage sent the car into an orbit around the sun. But where is Starman now? And will we ever see him again? In this video, we’re going to look at the long journey Starman has been on since leaving Earth. We’ll also explore when he might return to Earth and the possible solutions for retrieving him.
After Starman left Earth’s orbit, scientists and amateur astronomers around the world pointed their telescopes toward the night sky to track the Roadster and predict its future orbit. A team at JPL used data provided by SpaceX and predicted that Starman would pass by Earth in 2091, getting within a few thousand kilometers. This model proved accurate for the first few months, but since it was based on a limited amount of data, anything beyond that became increasingly inaccurate.
It wasn’t until March of this year that we received a solid prediction of Starman’s future. Thanks to an observation of the Roadster from a telescope in South Africa, JPL was able to refine their measurements and accurately predict Starman’s path for the next 50 years. They concluded that Starman is on a path that will pass by Mars in 2020, getting within 4.5 million miles. At this point, the current telescopes we have on Mars won’t be capable of observing an object as dim as the Roadster. Starman will make a closer approach to Mars in 2035, getting as close as 1.5 million miles. By then, it’s likely that we’ll have more advanced telescopes on and around Mars to capture an image of the Roadster, even if it’s just a tiny dot in the sky.
Starman will make its closest approach to Earth in 2047, passing by at just 3 million miles. At this distance, telescopes on Earth will be able to observe the Roadster and record its position in the sky, giving us a more refined prediction for many years to come.
But what if we were able to catch Starman during this close approach? The idea of retrieving satellites from space isn’t unheard of. Due to the enormous payload bay on the Space Shuttle, it was capable of retrieving faulty satellites and returning them to Earth. During STS-51, astronauts managed to grapple two communication satellites into the payload bay using EVA jetpacks and the Shuttle’s robotic arm. Those satellites were returned to Earth and sold to new customers who relaunched them into the correct orbits.
However, retrieving satellites outside of Earth’s orbit is much more challenging and requires significantly more energy. A Japanese spacecraft that launched in 2014 has slowly made its way out to an asteroid 180 million miles from Earth. It has already managed to retrieve samples from the surface and will continue to survey the asteroid before returning those samples to Earth in 2020. Although the Roadster is a much heavier sample to bring back from space, Starship could follow a similar plan to retrieve the Roadster. With the enormous capability of Starship, it could refuel in Earth’s orbit and perform a maneuver to match the Roadster’s orbit. With a large amount of fuel remaining, it could then capture the Roadster and store it in the payload bay before returning to Earth.
So perhaps one day, many years down the line, the generation that experienced the iconic Falcon Heavy launch will be reunited with Starman and his Roadster. Or perhaps, it’s best to let him wander the solar system forever as a symbol of human civilization.
Starman – A fictional or hypothetical person who travels through space. – The starman navigated through the galaxy, exploring new planets and stars.
Earth – The third planet from the Sun in our solar system, home to all known life. – From space, Earth appears as a beautiful blue and green sphere due to its oceans and landmasses.
Orbit – The curved path of a celestial object or spacecraft around a star, planet, or moon. – The satellite was launched into orbit around Earth to collect weather data.
Telescope – An instrument that makes distant objects appear closer and larger, used for observing celestial bodies. – Using a telescope, we were able to see the rings of Saturn from our backyard.
Mars – The fourth planet from the Sun, known for its reddish appearance and nickname “The Red Planet.” – Scientists are studying Mars to understand if it could have supported life in the past.
Space – The vast, seemingly infinite expanse that exists beyond Earth’s atmosphere, containing stars, planets, and galaxies. – Astronauts train for years to prepare for the challenges of living and working in space.
Rocket – A vehicle or device propelled by the expulsion of gases, used to transport spacecraft into space. – The rocket launched successfully, carrying a new satellite into orbit.
Predictions – Statements about what will happen in the future based on current knowledge or evidence. – Scientists make predictions about solar eclipses by calculating the orbits of the Earth and Moon.
Journey – The act of traveling from one place to another, especially over a long distance or through space. – The journey to the International Space Station takes about six hours from launch to docking.
Solar – Relating to or determined by the Sun. – Solar panels convert sunlight into electricity, providing power for the space station.
