South Korean satellite captures before and after views of SpaceX rocket's moon crash
- A South Korean satellite has captured images of the moon's surface after a SpaceX rocket segment crashed into it.
- The collision occurred at a speed of 5,400 mph and is expected to be officially confirmed soon.
- The Korea Aerospace Research Institute's Danuri spacecraft took multiple photos of the impact site shortly after the crash.
- The area where the rocket hit is visibly darker, indicating a new crater was formed.
- NASA plans to send its Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter to survey the crash site next week.
A South Korean satellite has captured the first images of the moon's surface following a collision with a stray SpaceX rocket segment. The Korea Aerospace Research Institute's Danuri spacecraft flew over the impact site soon after the Falcon 9 upper stage inadvertently crashed into the moon at a speed of 5,400 mph on Wednesday.
The images show a noticeably darker area where the rocket hit, indicating that a new crater was formed, with dust and rock scattered around the impact site. Korean space officials reported that Danuri gathered both before and after images of the collision.
NASA is expected to send its Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter to the crash site next week to assess the aftermath of the impact. The upper stage of the rocket was placed on a collision course due to solar activity and gravitational forces, according to SpaceX.
韩国卫星拍摄SpaceX火箭月球撞击前后影像
一颗韩国卫星拍摄了SpaceX火箭段撞击月球后的第一张影像。韩国航空宇宙研究院的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现场，撞击速度为5400英里每小时。
影像显示火箭撞击的区域明显变暗，表明形成了新的陨石坑，周围散落着尘埃和岩石。韩国航天官员表示，Danuri拍摄了撞击前后的影像。
NASA预计将在下周派遣其月球勘测轨道器前往撞击现场，评估撞击的后果。火箭的上级由于太阳活动和重力的影响而被置于碰撞轨道上，SpaceX对此作出了说明。