Elon Musk said on Twitter that Tesla's Roadster car, launched into space aboard SpaceX's rocket in 2018, is "currently orbiting Mars". Astrophysicist Jonathan McDowell responded saying, "No. It's orbiting the Sun...and occasionally passes the orbit of Mars. Not the same thing." He also shared the car's orbital map. In October 2020, the car came within 5 million miles of Mars.