SpaceX craft overshot Mars’ orbit and is headed to asteroid belt
One question I had about the Tesla launch that wasn't clear is whether the car was thoroughly sanitized prior to sending it up. My understanding is that any object that has the potential to reach another planet has to be thoroughly sterilized to avoid inadvertently introducing Earth organisms to another planet. The chances are technically low but it is theoretically possible and its why NASA has a dedicated page on "planetary protection": <a href="https://mars.nasa.gov/msl/mission/technology/insituexploration/planetaryprotection/" rel="nofollow">https://mars.nasa.gov/msl/mission/technology/insituexplorati...</a><p>My hope is that the SpaceX people did the same for this Tesla. Otherwise it would be rather reckless especially since now it is clear there wasn't a specific controlled orbit path, just a burn to launch it as far as possible, and now its possible it could end up impacting something and potentially contaminating it with Earth organisms.