Scientists are certain a wayward SpaceX rocket slammed into the moon as predicted
- Scientists are certain that a SpaceX rocket has slammed into the moon as predicted.
- The rocket segment collided with the moon at a speed of 5,400 mph after drifting off course for the past year.
- A telescope in Chile detected a debris plume resulting from the crash, confirming the impact.
- SpaceX is working with NASA to avoid future collisions, emphasizing that this crash was not intentional.
- The anticipated crash site was near Einstein Crater on the moon.
A SpaceX rocket that launched a pair of lunar landers slammed into the moon as predicted on Wednesday after drifting off course for the past year. Although no one observed the actual 5,400-mph collision, a telescope in Chile spotted what astronomers have identified as the debris plume resulting from the crash. Space tracking experts said it was inevitable that the leftover rocket segment plowed into the moon.
SpaceX’s Julianna Scheiman stated that the company is working with NASA to avoid future wrecks, stressing that this projected crash was not deliberate. A combination of solar activity and gravity accidentally put it on a collision course with the moon. Boston University’s Carl Schmidt expressed certainty that his team’s observations revealed signs of the lunar crash.
Visual confirmation of the impact will have to wait for NASA’s Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter to fly over the crash scene and send back photos of the impact crater, which is not expected until next week. The Falcon rocket’s upper stage, which was more than 40 feet long, had previously launched two private lunar landers before becoming adrift.
科学家确定一枚失控的SpaceX火箭如预期撞击月球
一枚SpaceX火箭于周三如预期撞击月球，此前漂移了一年。虽然没有人目击到5400英里每小时的撞击，但智利的一台望远镜探测到了天文学家确认的撞击后产生的碎片云。空间追踪专家表示，剩余的火箭段撞击月球是不可避免的。
SpaceX的朱莉安娜·谢曼表示，公司正在与NASA合作以避免未来的碰撞，强调此次预计的撞击并非故意。太阳活动和引力的组合意外地使其走上了与月球的碰撞轨道。波士顿大学的卡尔·施密特表示，他的团队的观察结果显示出月球撞击的迹象。
对撞击的视觉确认将需要等待NASA的月球勘测轨道器飞越撞击现场并发送撞击坑的照片，这预计要到下周才能完成。这枚超过40英尺长的猎鹰火箭上级在发射了两枚私人月球着陆器后变得漂移。