A NASA spacecraft orbiting the moon has captured stunning images of the impact crater caused by a SpaceX rocket crashing into the lunar surface. This event occurred earlier this month, leaving a significant mark on the moon’s terrain.
On August 5, the Falcon 9 rocket’s upper stage malfunctioned and collided with the moon at an impressive speed of 5,400 mph. The booster, weighing around 10,800 pounds, had initially launched two landers to the moon in January 2025, where they stayed in orbit until the impact.
New images of the crash site have been released by NASA, captured by the Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter on August 11th and 12th. These images showcase the before-and-after views of the affected area, revealing bright depressions on the moon’s rugged surface.
Although the impact on August 5 was not visible in real-time, researchers were able to predict the crash site where a new crater formed on the western edge of the moon’s sunlit side.
The Lunar Reconnaissance spacecraft from NASA orbits the moon pole to pole every two hours, making it challenging to pinpoint the exact location for imaging. It took six days for the orbiter to pass over the SpaceX crash site.
Engineers had to adjust the spacecraft’s position to capture photos of the crater as it flew 90 miles above the moon’s surface, traveling at a speed of 1 mile per second.
Recent photos indicate that the crater measures approximately 60 feet in diameter, with a depth of less than 10 feet based on the length of its shadow, according to NASA.
The images show light and dark streaks emanating from the crater, with dimmer streaks consisting of surface dust and rocks, and brighter streaks indicating fresher material unearthed from deeper layers after the impact.
NASA reports that the center of the crater lies at an altitude of around 1,700 feet.
Following the crash, a telescope in Chile observed a plume of debris resulting from the collision. Subsequently, the Korea Pathfinder lunar probe flew over the impact site, capturing photos of the crater and surrounding ejected material.
The SpaceX crash marks only the second incident of a rocket unintentionally striking the lunar surface. This event has reignited discussions about sustainability in space, particularly as countries like the US and China aim to establish a presence on the moon.
SpaceX has stated its commitment to addressing the hardware left in space responsibly, especially as solar activity and gravitational forces can influence the trajectory of objects in orbit. Collaborating with NASA, SpaceX is working on optimal disposal strategies for future missions.
Source: www.nbcnews.com
