Drifting SpaceX Rocket On High-Speed Collision Course With Moon
A discarded SpaceX rocket stage is on a collision course with the moon, expected to impact the lunar surface at high speed. Scientists plan to observe the crater and dust plume to better understand the impact of space debris on lunar environments.
Why it matters
The event underscores the growing issue of space junk and the potential risks it poses to future lunar exploration and astronaut safety.
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 (8,700 kph) - seven times the speed of sound - near Einstein Crater on the moon's sunlit western limb.
Get smarter about the news
Sign up free for a feed built around what you actually care about, Dive Deeper research on any story, and the full text of every article.
Create free accountAlready have an account? Sign in