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 crashed 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.
- SpaceX is working with NASA to avoid future wrecks, stating that this crash was not deliberate.
- 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, scientists reported.
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. The anticipated crash site was a dusty, barren patch near Einstein Crater on the moon’s sunlit western limb.
SpaceX’s Julianna Scheiman stated that the company is working with NASA to avoid future wrecks, emphasizing that this projected crash was not deliberate. 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.
科学家确认一枚失控的SpaceX火箭如预期撞击月球
一枚SpaceX火箭在发射一对月球着陆器后，如预期于周三撞击月球，过去一年一直偏离轨道，科学家报告称。
尽管没有人观察到实际的5400英里每小时的碰撞，但智利的一台望远镜探测到了天文学家所识别的撞击后产生的碎片云。
太空追踪专家表示，剩余的火箭段撞击月球是不可避免的。预期的撞击地点位于月球的爱因斯坦陨石坑附近的一个尘土飞扬、荒凉的区域。
SpaceX的朱莉安娜·谢曼表示，公司正在与NASA合作以避免未来的撞击，并强调此次预计的撞击并非故意。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。