SpaceX rocket stage set to crash into moon, leaving new crater

The upper stage of a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket is on a collision course with the moon, with its impact expected on Wednesday. Scientists and astronomy enthusiasts are anticipating the event, which will create a new, small crater on the lunar surface. The collision is not expected to pose any danger to Earth.

Astronomers anticipate observing a plume of debris ejected from the impact site, illuminated by sunlight. "Those with telescopes might be able to see the resulting plume of material from the impact," said Benjamin Fernando, an official from Los Alamos National Laboratory in New Mexico and lead author of a study on the collision. "It’s still unclear how bright that plume will be, and that’s one of the reasons we want to study this event."

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Those with telescopes might be able to see the resulting plume of material from the impact. It’s still unclear how bright that plume will be, and that’s one of the reasons we want to study this event.

Researchers estimate the rocket stage weighs approximately 4,000 kilograms, assuming all fuel has been depleted. It is projected to hit the northern hemisphere of the moon near Einstein Crater at a speed of about 8,690 kilometers per hour. NASA will continue to track the rocket for training purposes and monitor the impact site later for scientific research, according to spokesperson Jimi Russell.

The Falcon 9 rocket was launched in January carrying two lunar landers. While the booster returned to Earth, the upper stage remained in space to continue the landers' journey. SpaceX typically adjusts trajectories to ensure the rocket's second stage is safely disposed of, but a combination of solar activity and gravitational forces altered its path toward the moon. This event provides a valuable opportunity to test methods for detecting impact sites on the moon for future seismic experiments and to study dust and ejecta dynamics.

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There is no danger to Earth. NASA will continue to track the rocket for training purposes, as well as observe the impact site later for scientific research.