Wayward SpaceX rocket slammed into the moon as predicted
A wayward SpaceX rocket stage, which had been drifting in space for a year, has collided with the moon as predicted by astronomers. While the impact was not observed directly, telescope evidence confirmed the presence of a debris plume near the Einstein Crater.
Why it matters
The incident highlights the growing issue of space debris and the environmental impact of lunar missions as global space agencies increase their activity.
A SpaceX rocket that launched a pair of lunar landers slammed into the moon as predicted Wednesday after drifting off course for the past year, scientists reported. Although no one observed the actual 5,400-mph collision, a telescope in Chile spotted what astronomers have identified as the debris plume resulting from the crash. Space tracking experts said it was inevitable that the leftover rocket segment plowed into the moon. It’s the latest instance of lunar litter, a problem that many fear could worsen as the U.S. and China race to put astronauts on the moon. In 2022, a Chinese rocket unintentionally hit the moon following a lunar mission, and many more stray rocket pieces likely struck the moon in decades past without scientists' knowledge. SpaceX's Julianna Scheiman said this week that the company is working with NASA to avoid future wrecks, stressing that this projected crash was not deliberate.
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