Defunct SpaceX Rocket Part Set to Crash Into Moon

A defunct piece of a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket is on an unavoidable trajectory to collide with the Moon, according to scientists. The object, which has been in orbit since its launch in 2015, is now heading towards an impact with the lunar surface.

Experts predict the rocket stage will strike the Moon at a velocity greater than 5,000 miles per hour. This uncontrolled descent means the debris will become a new crater on the lunar landscape. While space debris is a growing concern in Earth's orbit, this incident is notable as it represents the first known instance of a large piece of human-made space junk intentionally impacting the Moon.

The Falcon 9 booster was part of the mission that launched NASA's Deep Space Climate Observatory (DSCOVR) in February 2015. After completing its task of propelling the satellite, the booster was discarded and has since been drifting in space. Scientists have been tracking its orbit, and its path now guarantees a lunar impact.