Before-and-after NASA images show crater carved by a SpaceX rocket that slammed into the moon
- NASA released before-and-after images of a fresh crater on the moon made by a SpaceX Falcon rocket upper stage that struck the lunar surface on Aug. 5.
- Scientists said the crater is about 60 feet (18 meters) wide and less than 10 feet (3 meters) deep.
- The rocket stage hit the moon at about 5,400 mph (8,700 kph) after drifting in space for more than a year.
- NASA’s Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter captured the impact site about a week after the collision from roughly 60 miles (96 kilometers) above the moon.
- Dark and bright streaks radiating from the crater show excavated material from near the surface and fresher material from deeper below.
NASA has released new before-and-after images showing the crater left on the moon after a SpaceX Falcon rocket upper stage crashed into the lunar surface. The photos were taken by NASA’s Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter and provide the sharpest view yet of the impact site.
According to scientists, the fresh crater is about 60 feet across and less than 10 feet deep. The rocket stage struck the moon on Aug. 5 at around 5,400 mph after drifting through space for more than a year.
NASA said the orbiter captured the scene about a week after the collision from an altitude of roughly 60 miles. The images show dark and bright streaks radiating from the crater, indicating material excavated from near the surface and fresher debris from deeper below.
NASA前后对比图像显示SpaceX火箭撞月形成的新陨坑
NASA公布了新的前后对比图像，显示SpaceX猎鹰火箭上面级撞击月球表面后留下的陨坑。相关照片由NASA的月球勘测轨道飞行器拍摄，提供了目前最清晰的撞击现场视图。
科学家称，这个新陨坑直径约60英尺，深度不到10英尺。这级火箭在太空中漂移一年多后，于8月5日以约5400英里/小时的速度撞上月球。
NASA表示，轨道飞行器在碰撞后约一周、从约60英里的高度拍到了现场。图像显示陨坑周围有深浅不同的放射状条纹，说明被掘出的物质来自近地表，也有来自更深处的新鲜碎屑。