NASA Images Show Aftermath Of SpaceX Falcon 9 Slamming Into The Moon
Newly released NASA orbital photos have revealed the final impact spot of the derelict SpaceX rocket stage on the Moon, offering scientists a better look at how artificial collisions can shape the lunar surface.
The Moon obtained a fresh scar on August 5 when an 8,800-pound Falcon 9 upper stage slammed into its surface at about 5,400 mph. The booster had originally launched in January of last year to carry commercial lunar payloads (including Firefly Aerospace’s Blue Ghost lander) before spending over a year drifting through space in a chaotic orbit. Detonating with a force equivalent to nearly three tons of TNT upon impact, the spent hardware left a crater roughly 60 feet (18 meters) across and less than 10 feet (3 meters) deep.
Between August 11 and August 12, NASA’s Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter (LRO)did a sweep over the crash site to capture some post-impact shots using its Narrow-Angle...
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