Is there really a car floating in space right now?

Yes. In February 2018, SpaceX's Falcon Heavy test flight launched a Tesla Roadster with a spacesuited mannequin nicknamed Starman into orbit around the Sun.…

Yes. In February 2018, SpaceX's Falcon Heavy test flight launched a Tesla Roadster with a spacesuited mannequin nicknamed Starman into orbit around the Sun. It's still out there.

Why SpaceX launched a car at all

The Roadster was not a scientific mission — it was a test payload with a sense of humour. A first flight of a new heavy rocket is risky, so it normally carries something heavy but expendable, like a block of concrete. SpaceX's founder chose his own cherry-red Roadster instead, with a mannequin in a real spacesuit at the wheel. The stunt proved the rocket could send a heavy load toward deep space, and the images became unforgettable advertising.

What to do, step by step

1. Remember the basics: the car launched in February 2018 on the first flight of the Falcon Heavy rocket.
2. Understand its orbit — it circles the Sun, travelling out beyond the orbit of Mars, then back inward.
3. Do not expect live pictures today; the car's batteries powered its cameras only in the early hours.
4. Treat precise 'where is it now' figures carefully, because they come from orbital calculations, not a tracker.
5. Look for it in context: it will keep orbiting for a very long time, slowly worn by radiation and tiny impacts.