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Defunct part of SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket will slam into the moon
NPR • • general
Key Points:
- A piece of a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket is expected to impact the moon around 2:35 a.m. ET on Wednesday, traveling at over 5,000 mph; the debris is part of the rocket's upper stage and roughly the size of a five-story building.
- The impact site is predicted to be on the sunlit, Earth-facing northwestern side of the moon near the Einstein Crater, potentially creating a crater at least 17 meters in diameter.
- SpaceX did not plan for this defunct rocket piece to hit the moon, and the company has not responded to requests for comment.
- NASA's Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter will observe the impact site before and after collision to detect any surface changes, providing valuable data on lunar impacts.
- While the impact and resulting dust plume may be difficult to observe with standard telescopes, some researchers believe it could be visible with sensitive equipment, offering a rare scientific opportunity to study lunar impacts.
