Elon Musk's Tesla Roadster and its 'Starman' driver have a near-brush with Mars

An electric car that SpaceX founder Elon Musk rocketed into space more than two years ago just "flew past" Mars for the first time.

In February 2018, SpaceX launched its reusable heavy-lift launch vehicle – Falcon Heavy for the first time along with a cherry-red Tesla Roadster with a mannequin called "Starman" behind the wheel.

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The roadster, "driven" by "Starman" wearing a spacesuit, was part of a dummy payload attached to the second stage of a SpaceX Falcon Heavy Rocket that launched in 2018.

On Friday, the rocket company SpaceX tweeted that the vehicle made its first close approach with Mars, coming within five million miles of it.

"Starman, last seen leaving Earth, made its first close approach with Mars on today within 0.05 astronomical units, or under 5 million miles, of the Red Planet," the company tweeted.

"Starman" and the Roadster circle the sun once every 557 Earth days, according to the tracking site whereisroadster.com.

Indo-Asian News Service