Home / Science / SpaceX Rocket Crater Found on Moon!
SpaceX Rocket Crater Found on Moon!
19 Aug
Summary
- NASA images reveal a 60-foot crater from SpaceX rocket impact.
- The upper stage of a Falcon 9 rocket hit the moon on August 5.
- Scientists use the event to study the moon and plan future missions.
New images captured by a NASA satellite orbiting the moon have confirmed the formation of a fresh 60-foot-wide crater. This lunar scar resulted from the unintentional impact of a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket's upper stage, which occurred on August 5.
The rocket's upper stage, launched in January 2025, was intentionally discarded after its mission but was nudged onto a collision course with the moon by orbital mechanics. After the impact, researchers and space agencies, including the European Southern Observatory and the Korean Pathfinder Lunar Orbiter (Danuri), worked to capture imagery of the event.
NASA's Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter (LRO) successfully imaged the crater by carefully tilting its cameras. This effort required extreme precision due to the orbiter's speed and the moon's rotation. The images were taken between August 11 and August 12, six days after the LRO's orbital path aligned with the impact site.
Despite the unplanned nature of the collision, NASA scientists emphasize that it poses no threat and aligns with accepted methods for space hardware disposal. Observations of this impact are valuable for scientific research, aiding scientists in understanding the moon's surface and preparing for future astronaut missions and infrastructure.
