South Korean satellite captures before and after views of SpaceX rocket's moon crash
- A South Korean satellite, Danuri, has 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 was expected after the rocket drifted off course for a year.
- The impact site shows a noticeably darker terrain where the rocket hit, creating a crater and scattering dust and rocks.
- NASA's Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter is set to fly over the crash site next week to assess the aftermath.
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 the launch of Danuri in 2022 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火箭月球撞击的前后影像
韩国卫星捕捉到了由一枚漂移的SpaceX火箭造成的月球新撞击场景的首批图片。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地点。
撞击地点的地形明显变暗，形成了一个坑，周围散落着尘土和岩石。韩国宇航官员表示，Danuri收集了前后影像。NASA预计其月球勘测轨道飞行器将在下周飞越撞击地点，以查看后果。
2022年发射Danuri的上级火箭在本周以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导致的意外碰撞轨道。