AI Generated Image
Satellite takes pictures of crash site after SpaceX rocket hits the moon
AP News • • general
Key Points:
- South Korea's Danuri spacecraft captured the first images of the moon's fresh crash site caused by a stray SpaceX Falcon 9 upper stage.
- The impact created a noticeable dark crater on the lunar surface, with dust and rock scattered around the site.
- Danuri took multiple photos before and after the collision, which occurred at about 5,400 mph due to an accidental trajectory influenced by solar activity and gravity.
- NASA's Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter is expected to survey the crash site next week to assess the damage.
- SpaceX launched Danuri in 2022 and also sent private lunar landers to the moon last year, with the upper stage from that mission being the object that struck the moon.
