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 before and after a SpaceX rocket segment crashed into it.
- The crash occurred at a speed of 5,400 mph and is believed to have happened on August 5, 2026.
- The impact created a noticeable darker area on the moon's surface where the rocket hit and formed a crater.
- NASA's Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter is expected to fly over the crash site next week to assess the aftermath.
A South Korean satellite has captured the first images of the moon's crash site 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 the launch that sent Danuri to the moon is what crashed into the moon this week, 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
一颗韩国卫星捕捉到了由一枚偏离轨道的SpaceX火箭造成的月球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。
撞击造成月球表面明显变暗，并形成了一个陨石坑，尘埃和岩石四散。韩国航天官员表示，Danuri拍摄了撞击前后的影像。
NASA预计其月球侦察轨道器将在下周飞越撞击地点以查看后果。根据SpaceX的说法，发射Danuri的上级阶段就是本周撞击月球的火箭段，因太阳活动和重力而意外进入了碰撞轨道。