Discarded SpaceX rocket is on high-speed collision course with the moon
A discarded SpaceX rocket upper stage is set to collide with the moon, creating a crater and providing scientists with an opportunity to study lunar debris. While the impact was unintentional, it highlights the growing issue of space junk in orbit.
Why it matters
The event underscores the increasing risks posed by space debris to future lunar missions and the need for better orbital management.
CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- A drifting SpaceX rocket is on a collision course with the moon after launching a pair of lunar landers more than a year ago.
The rocket's upper stage will unintentionally slam into the moon on Wednesday, carving out a crater and sending up a plume of dust and rubble that scientists - and skygazers - are eager to observe.
Space tracking expert Bill Gray predicts an impact of 5,400 mph - seven times the speed of sound - near Einstein Crater on the moon's sunlit western limb. With the action unfolding in the wee hours, the eastern portions of the U.S. and Canada, and much of South America should have the best views.
While scientists are not too concerned about this particular piece of space junk, it highlights the growing threat as more and more items cram into orbit.
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