1 month ago
SpaceX Rocket Stage to Crash into Moon on Wednesday
A SpaceX rocket part that was left in space after launching two lunar landers is going to hit the Moon on Wednesday.
It will crash near a place called Einstein Crater at a very fast speed, making a small crater and throwing dust into space.
Scientists think the dust will be visible for a few minutes with telescopes.
They want to study the impact to learn how space junk could affect future astronauts on the Moon.
The rocket was left after it helped launch two private landers in January 2025, one of which landed successfully on the Moon.
SpaceX upper stage will collide with the Moon on Wednesday.
Impact will occur near Einstein Crater at about 5,400 mph, creating a ~90‑ft crater.
The collision will eject a dust plume visible to telescopes for minutes.
Scientists see the event as a chance to study debris hazards for future lunar missions.
The stage was left after launching two private landers in January 2025.
- Who
- SpaceX rocket upper stage
- What
- Collision with the Moon
- Where
- Near Einstein Crater on the Moon's western limb
- When
- Wednesday
- Why
- Unintended trajectory; could have been avoided by nudging into solar orbit
Key facts
- Impact speed
- 5,400 mph (8,700 kph)
- Impact location
- Einstein Crater, Moon's western limb
- Impact energy
- Equivalent to 3 tons of TNT
- Rocket mass
- 10,000 pounds (4,500 kg)
- Expected crater
- 90 ft across, 16 ft deep
Quotes
Benjamin Fernando
Scientist at Los Alamos National Laboratory
“"Part of the reason for our interest in this event is to figure out how much of a hazard debris impacts pose to future astronauts," said Los Alamos National Laboratory's Benjamin Fernando in an email.”
NDTV
deccanchronicle.com
“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.”
NDTV
deccanchronicle.com
Sources
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