A SpaceX rocket is currently drifting towards a collision with the Moon, potentially creating a visible impact flash from Earth. The rocket’s upper stage, equivalent to the size of a five-story building, is set to crash into the Moon on Wednesday, forming a crater and emitting dust and debris.
Originally launched by SpaceX as part of a joint US-Japanese mission last year, the Falcon 9 rocket was carrying lunar landers and scientific instruments. Measuring about 40 feet and weighing 10,000 pounds, the abandoned segment could have been redirected away from the Moon if nudged into a solar orbit, experts suggest.
Anticipated to hit the Moon at a speed of approximately 5,400 mph, the rocket is expected to impact near the Einstein Crater on the Moon’s illuminated western side, according to space-tracking specialist Bill Gray. While the collision itself may not be observable from Earth, astronomers believe that the brief impact flash and resulting plume of dust and debris could be seen through powerful telescopes.
Astronomer Bill Gray, who first identified the rocket’s impending lunar collision, expressed on his Project Pluto website the possibility of witnessing the flash and ejected rocks from the crater. Dr. Matt Bothwell of the University of Cambridge mentioned that individuals with advanced telescopes in the eastern US, Canada, and parts of South America may have the best opportunity to observe the event.
Although the space debris poses minimal concern, scientists emphasize the growing threat as more objects accumulate in orbit. This event marks the second accidental crash of a discarded rocket into the Moon, following a similar incident involving a Chinese rocket segment in 2022. Researchers are keen on assessing the impact’s implications for future space missions and astronaut safety.
The impact is projected to create a crater roughly 90 feet wide and 16 feet deep, visible to spacecraft but not from Earth. While this specific impact is deemed inconsequential, precautions are urged to prevent similar incidents in the future, especially as human presence on the Moon increases.