South Korean satellite captures before and after views of SpaceX rocket's moon crash
- A South Korean satellite, Danuri, captured images of the moon's surface after a SpaceX rocket segment collided with it.
- The crash occurred at a speed of 5,400 mph and is expected to be officially confirmed soon.
- The impact site shows a noticeably darker terrain where the rocket hit and created a crater.
- NASA's Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter is expected to fly over the crash site next week for further analysis.
A South Korean satellite has captured the first pictures of the moon’s fresh crash scene caused by a stray SpaceX rocket. The Korea Aerospace Research Institute’s Danuri spacecraft flew over the impact site soon after the Falcon 9 upper stage inadvertently plowed into the moon on Wednesday.
The terrain is noticeably darker where the rocket hit and carved out a crater, sending dust and rock everywhere. Korean space officials said Danuri gathered before and after shots. NASA expects its Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter to fly over the crash site next week to view the aftermath.
The upper stage from that launch is what crashed into the moon this week at 5,400 mph, placed on an accidental collision course by solar activity and gravity, according to SpaceX.
韩国卫星捕捉到SpaceX火箭撞击月球前后的影像
韩国卫星捕捉到了由于一枚流浪的SpaceX火箭造成的月球新撞击现场的首批影像。韩国航空航天研究院的Danuri航天器在周三Falcon 9上级意外撞击月球后不久飞越了撞击地点。
撞击地点的地表明显变暗，形成了一个新坑，尘土和岩石四散飞扬。韩国航天官员表示，Danuri收集了撞击前后的影像。美国宇航局预计其月球勘测轨道器将在下周飞越撞击地点以查看后果。
此次发射的上级在本周以5400英里每小时的速度撞击月球，SpaceX表示这是由于太阳活动和重力造成的意外碰撞轨迹。