SpaceX rocket segment to crash into the moon: What happened?
Summary
A piece of a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket that had been drifting in space hit the moon at high speed on Wednesday. The crash is expected to create a new crater but poses no danger to Earth. Experts are monitoring the impact to confirm it and study the changes on the lunar surface.Key Facts
- The rocket piece likely hit the moon around 2:35 a.m. ET at about 5,400 mph (8,690 km/h).
- It is believed to have crashed in the Einstein Crater on the moon’s western edge.
- The piece weighs about 4 metric tonnes (4,000 kg) and will create a plume of lunar dust.
- The debris came from the upper part of a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket launched last January.
- This rocket’s second stage had pushed lunar landers before becoming uncontrollable and drifting in space.
- SpaceX confirmed the crash was unintentional and NASA said there is no danger to Earth.
- The rocket stage’s path changed due to solar activity and gravity, causing it to fall toward the moon.
- The incident highlights concerns about increasing space junk orbiting Earth and the moon.
Read the Full Article
This is a fact-based summary from The Actual News. Click below to read the complete story directly from the original source.
