DistantNews
Support us
SpaceX rocket expected to crash into Moon tomorrow
🇩🇴 Dominican Republic /Technology

SpaceX rocket expected to crash into Moon tomorrow

From Diario Libre · () Spanish

Translated from Spanish, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News From a news agency Ongoing story
  • The upper stage of a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket is expected to crash into the Moon on Wednesday.
  • The collision will create a new crater but poses no risk to Earth.
  • Scientists anticipate observing the debris trail and impact site for scientific study.

The upper stage of a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket is on an unintended collision course with the Moon, with impact expected on Wednesday. While the event poses no threat to Earth, it is anticipated to leave a small crater on the lunar surface.

It is not clear how bright it will be, and that is one of the reasons why we want to study this event.

— Benjamin FernandoA scientist from Los Alamos National Laboratory explained the scientific interest in observing the impact's visibility.

Scientists and space enthusiasts are preparing to observe the aftermath of the impact, which is predicted to occur around 06:35 GMT. Benjamin Fernando of Los Alamos National Laboratory, lead author of a recent study on the event, noted that observers with telescopes might be able to see the plume of material ejected by the impact. "It is not clear how bright it will be, and that is one of the reasons why we want to study this event," Fernando stated.

Assuming all propellant has been expended, the rocket stage weighs approximately 4,000 kilograms. It is expected to strike the Moon's northern hemisphere near the Einstein crater at a speed of about 8,690 kilometers per hour. NASA spokesperson Jimi Russell confirmed that there is "no danger to Earth." NASA plans to track the booster for training purposes and later observe the impact site for scientific data collection.

There is no danger to Earth.

— Jimi RussellA NASA spokesperson reassured the public about the safety of the event.

The Falcon 9 rocket launched in January of the previous year, carrying two lunar landers. While the booster returned to Earth, the upper stage remained in space to propel the landers. SpaceX typically performs maneuvers to ensure the safety of its second stages after high-energy missions, according to Julianna Scheiman, a program director at SpaceX. The upcoming lunar impact is a rare artificial collision; NASA previously conducted deliberate impacts during its Apollo program in the 1970s to gather seismic data. Understanding such events is becoming increasingly important as NASA aims to establish a sustained human presence on the Moon.

NASA will continue to track the booster for training purposes and later observe the impact site for scientific purposes.

— Jimi RussellA NASA spokesperson outlined the agency's plans following the impact.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Diario Libre in Spanish. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

More Stories

From Our Blog