Part of a SpaceX rocket to leave crater when it slams into the Moon
Summary
The upper stage of a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket will crash into the Moon, creating a new crater. Scientists and sky watchers plan to observe the event, which poses no danger to Earth.Key Facts
- The Falcon 9 upper stage will hit the Moon’s northern hemisphere near Einstein Crater at about 5,400 miles per hour.
- The rocket part weighs approximately 8,800 pounds (4,000 kilograms).
- The crash is caused by solar activity and gravity changing the rocket’s path.
- The rocket launched last January carrying two lunar landers; the first stage returned to Earth, but the upper stage remained in space.
- SpaceX followed safety rules but the collision was unplanned.
- NASA will track the rocket before and after impact for scientific study.
- The event may be visible through telescopes as a plume of debris from the crash.
- Understanding impacts on the Moon helps plan for future human missions and deals with space debris.
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