South Korean orbiter reveals 30-meter Falcon 9 impact crater on the Moon

lesnumeriques.com (French)

Danuri orbiter captured first real images of the SpaceX Falcon 9 crash site on the Moon, revealing a roughly 30-meter-wide crater from the August 5 impact. The four-ton Falcon 9 upper stage struck the lunar highlands at about 8,700 km/h, creating a double crater with a visible ejecta halo. Spanish astronomers believe they captured the dust plume, and officials confirmed the images after AI-generated fakes circulated online. Left in orbit after a remote launch, the debris drifted under Earth-Moon gravity and solar activity. Scientists call the accident a natural experiment to refine impact models and assess debris risks for future Artemis missions.


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