Updated · College of Social Sciences and Humanities · May 22
SpaceX Rocket Debris to Strike Moon at 5,400 Mph on Aug. 5
Updated
Updated · College of Social Sciences and Humanities · May 22
SpaceX Rocket Debris to Strike Moon at 5,400 Mph on Aug. 5
4 articles · Updated · College of Social Sciences and Humanities · May 22
A five-story SpaceX rocket fragment is projected to hit the moon at 2:44 a.m. Eastern on Aug. 5 after being left on a collision course from a recent lunar mission.
At roughly 5,400 mph, the impact is expected to do little more than kick up lunar debris and carve a small new crater, according to experts.
The strike is forecast near the boundary between the moon’s near and far sides, making the crater only a minor scientific point of interest.
The episode still sharpens scrutiny of private-sector lunar launches, as more spacecraft leave behind debris with limited plans for disposal.
What secrets of the Moon could be unearthed by the impact of this discarded rocket?
As our junk creates new craters, are we turning the Moon into a celestial junkyard?
Could recycling space debris into rocket fuel be the ultimate solution to our orbital trash problem?