According to multiple reports, a discarded SpaceX rocket upper stage is on an unintentional collision course with the moon. The rocket, which launched two lunar landers over a year ago, is expected to impact near Einstein Crater on the moon's sunlit western limb this Wednesday at approximately 5,400 mph (8,700 kph), as predicted by space tracking expert Bill Gray.
Key Takeaways
A discarded SpaceX rocket upper stage is set to collide with the moon's surface near Einstein Crater this Wednesday at approximately 5,400 mph. The collision will create a crater about 90 feet wide and 16 feet deep but is not expected to be visible from Earth except through telescopes. Scientists are eager to observe the impact to understand better the hazards of space debris for future lunar missions.
- SpaceX rocket upper stage on course to hit moon this Wednesday
- Impact predicted at 5,400 mph near Einstein Crater
- Expected crater size: 90 feet wide and 16 feet deep
- Scientists aim to study the impact for space debris hazard assessment
- NASA's Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter and South Korea's Danuri will capture before-and-after images
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▼Source Claims Check
High ConsensusAll 3 publishers report consistent facts across 4 key claims.
| Claim | Status | Reason | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Impact Speed | Broad Agreement | 5,400 mph (8,700 kph) | |
| Location Of Impact | Broad Agreement | Near Einstein Crater on the moon's sunlit western limb | |
| Expected Crater Size | Broad Agreement | 90 feet wide and 16 feet deep (27 meters across and 5 meters deep) | |
| Date Of Impact | Broad Agreement | This Wednesday |
Impact Speed
Broad Agreement5,400 mph (8,700 kph)
Location Of Impact
Broad AgreementNear Einstein Crater on the moon's sunlit western limb
Expected Crater Size
Broad Agreement90 feet wide and 16 feet deep (27 meters across and 5 meters deep)
Date Of Impact
Broad AgreementThis Wednesday
This analysis is AI-generated and may not perfectly represent each source's reporting. Always read the original articles for full context.
The collision will create a crater nearly 90 feet across and 16 feet deep. While the impact flash is expected to be too dim for direct observation from Earth, telescopes should capture the plume of ejected material stretching several miles into space. According to Los Alamos National Laboratory's Benjamin Fernando, this event provides an opportunity to assess the hazards posed by debris impacts to future astronauts.
The abandoned rocket segment measures about 40 feet long and weighs around 10,000 pounds. It successfully launched Firefly Aerospace’s Blue Ghost lunar lander but failed with ispace's Japanese-based lander. NASA's Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter and South Korea's Danuri lunar orbiter will gather before-and-after images of the crash site.
Scientists emphasize that while this impact poses no immediate threat, it highlights the growing issue of space debris as more missions head to the moon. The United States and China are racing to land astronauts on the lunar surface in the coming years, with SpaceX and Blue Origin competing to provide NASA's Artemis IV mission with a lunar lander.
How this summary was created
This summary synthesizes reporting from 3 independent publishers using AI. All sources are cited and linked below. NewsBalance is a news aggregator and media literacy tool, not a news publisher. AI-generated content may contain errors or inaccuracies — always verify important information with the original sources.