SpaceX rocket piece 'crashes' into Moon: 4-tonne stage hurtles in at 8,700 kmph
A four-tonne piece of a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket stage has reportedly crashed into the Moon at high speed after drifting in space for over a year. Astronomers are monitoring the site to study the impact crater and lunar surface effects.
Why it matters
This event highlights the growing issue of space debris and the scientific interest in studying lunar impacts to understand planetary geology.
A four-tonne piece of SpaceX rocket debris is believed to have slammed into the Moon at around 8,700 kmph, after drifting through space for more than a year.The impact was not immediately verified by astronomers, who were tracking the event with powerful telescopes and cameras. The crash site lies near the Moon's visible edge, making it difficult to observe from Earth. The confirmation may take hours, according to Reuters.The collision was expected to gouge out a crater roughly 18 metres wide and 4 metres deep, while sending lunar dust and broken rock flying across the surface. The resulting dust plume could extend for miles and may be visible in telescope images, although not to the naked eye.The impact poses no threat to Earth.
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