A higher stage of a SpaceX rocket, left in orbit after the launch of two lunar modules in January 2025, is on a collision course with the Moon and will accidentally crash on Wednesday.
Experts estimate that the rocket will hit the surface of the Moon at a speed of approximately 8,700 km/h, near the Einstein crater, on the side visible from Earth. The impact will create a crater about 27 meters in diameter and 5 meters deep, generating a cloud of dust and rock that could be observed with telescopes for several tens of minutes. Although the impact does not pose an immediate danger, the event highlights the growing problem of space debris and the need for better management of lunar traffic, considering future missions with robots and astronauts. The rocket carried the lunar modules Blue Ghost, from Firefly Aerospace, and a module from the Japanese company ispace. NASA and the South Korean probe Danuri will photograph the area before and after the impact to analyze the effects of the collision, essential information for assessing risks for future human bases on the Moon.
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