A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket stage that spent more than a year drifting through space has struck the Moon after veering off its intended path, according to scientists who tracked the object. While the impact itself was not directly observed, astronomers say telescope observations and orbital tracking provide strong evidence that the rocket collided with the lunar surface exactly as predicted.
टैग: Space Exploration
SpaceX Falcon 9 Rocket Believed to Hit the Moon, Offering Scientists a Rare Chance to Study Lunar Impacts
Washington, August 5: A spent upper stage of a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket is believed to have crashed into the Moon, creating what scientists expect to be a fresh impact crater near the well-known Einstein crater. While the collision was unplanned, researchers say it presents a valuable scientific opportunity to better understand how high-speed impacts shape the lunar surface and influence future Moon exploration missions.
SpaceX Targets Next Starship Launch This Month with First-Ever Upper Stage Catch and Upgraded Starlink Satellites
SpaceX is preparing for another major milestone in the development of its Starship launch system, with Chief Executive Officer Elon Musk announcing that the company’s next test flight could take place as early as this month. According to Reuters, the planned mission will attempt something SpaceX has never achieved before—bringing the Starship upper stage back to land and catching it with mechanical arms at its Texas launch site after completing an orbital journey.