SpaceX thrusters just made a Tesla Roadster 'fly' (and Elon Musk's car is still out there in space)

SpaceX successfully conducted a test firing of thrusters on a repurposed Starman payload, which carried a Tesla Roadster into orbit in 2018. This event demonstrated the viability of using spacecraft propulsion systems for controlled movements of objects in deep space. The original mission aimed to showcase the Falcon Heavy rocket and its payload, a cherry-red Roadster driven by a mannequin named Starman, became a long-term orbital artifact.

The significance of this thruster firing lies in its potential application for future deep-space missions and asteroid deflection technologies. By proving that a vehicle designed for terrestrial travel can be manipulated with rocket engines in vacuum, SpaceX is gathering data that could inform the design and control of spacecraft for more complex orbital maneuvers or even planetary defense scenarios. The Roadster remains in heliocentric orbit, a testament to the enduring presence of human-made objects in space.