SpaceX crash on Moon creates crater, sparks scientific interest

rts.ch (French)

An accidental SpaceX rocket crash created a new 27-meter crater on the Moon, sparking scientific interest in lunar geology and debris policy. The impact occurred Wednesday after a Falcon 9 segment, launched January 2025, lost control and struck at 8,700 km/h, with energy equivalent to 15,000 dynamite sticks. Korea's Danuri orbiter photographed the crater. Experts say such crashes are not prohibited if announced. The crash helps calibrate impact models, revealing how asteroid strikes shaped the Moon's geology. Regolith analysis and protected zones, including ice-rich areas and lava tubes, are key concerns.


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SpaceX crash on Moon creates crater, sparks scientific interest | News Minimalist