Key facts
- A discarded SpaceX rocket's upper stage will impact the moon on Wednesday.
- The impact is predicted to occur near Einstein Crater.
- Scientists are eager to observe the event to study debris hazards for future astronauts.
- This is the second known accidental crash of a rocket into the moon.
A discarded SpaceX rocket's upper stage is on an unavoidable collision course with the moon, set to impact on Wednesday. The crash, predicted to occur near Einstein Crater, will carve out a crater and eject a plume of dust and rubble that scientists are eager to observe. This event highlights growing concerns about the increasing amount of space debris in orbit.
Space experts noted that the crash could have been avoided if the rocket stage had been nudged into a solar orbit. This marks the second known accidental impact of a rocket on the moon, following a Chinese rocket segment in 2022. The upcoming impact, however, will occur on the moon's near side, offering opportunities for observation. Scientists, including Benjamin Fernando from Los Alamos National Laboratory, are encouraging both professional and amateur astronomers to observe the event to better understand the hazards posed by debris impacts for future lunar missions and astronauts.
NASA's Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter and South Korea's Danuri lunar orbiter are expected to capture before-and-after images of the impact site. The abandoned rocket segment, measuring about 40 feet long and weighing around 10,000 pounds, was part of a mission that launched two private lunar landers. While one lander successfully touched down, another was lost.
With increased activity and competition to land astronauts on the moon, improving debris monitoring and traffic control is becoming crucial. Retired astrophysicist Jonathan McDowell commented that while this specific impact is not a problem, future lunar bases would face significant issues from similar debris in chaotic orbits.