Key facts
- A piece of a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket is on a collision course with the Moon.
- The rocket stage was launched in 2015.
- The stage is four metric tons.
- The object is on an uncontrolled trajectory.
- The collision is expected on Wednesday.
- The impact speed is approximately 5,400 mph.
- This is believed to be the first man-made object to impact the Moon on an uncontrolled trajectory.
A spent stage of a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket is on a collision course with the Moon, with an impact expected on Wednesday. The four-metric-ton piece of space debris, launched in 2015, has been on an uncontrolled trajectory for years. It is projected to hit the lunar surface at approximately 5,400 miles per hour. This event is notable as it is believed to be the first instance of a man-made object impacting the Moon on an uncontrolled trajectory. The exact location of the impact is not specified, but it is expected to create a small crater. Scientists will be observing the event to gather data on the effects of such impacts on the lunar surface.