Left: Climate observation satellite launched by SpaceX Falcon 9 in February 2015. Right: On March 4, 2022, when the moon above Falcon 9 fell on the lunar surface, we will see the moon phase of the moon in the sky. Source: EarthSky/NASA
On March 4, 2022, the second stage of the SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket will crash into the moon.
Since sending climate observation satellites into space in February 2015. It's been in space all along.
On January 5, 2022, Falcon 9 flew over the moon at close range. Based on the latest observations, scientists have determined its orbit, and it will hit hertzplant crater with the moon's back to the Earth at approximately 20:25 Beijing time on March 4.
The impact will then exceed 9,300 km/h, creating a new, small crater on the moon.
This is the first known unintended effect of space junk on the moon.
However, the Moon has already experienced active impacts from many rockets and other spacecraft.
The location where the moon will hit. Image credit: Bill Gray.
On March 4, the moon will be close to the new moon.
But when you gaze at the moon, you won't see any effects from falcon 9's fall.
The rocket boosters were small, and the impact point was on the back of the moon facing the Earth, which we couldn't see from Earth.
Not for the first time
Since the formation of the Moon billions of years ago, various "debris" have been hitting our Moon.
We humans also deliberately crash some spacecraft into the moon.
For example, during many Apollo missions, NASA crashed rocket boosters (S-IVBs) toward the moon for scientific reasons. It allowed them to make lunar earthquake measurements to help them characterize the moon's interior.
NASA's Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter (LRO) discovered the crater caused by the impact of the Apollo 16 booster on the moon. LRO discovered the impact point in 2015, and the impact itself occurred in 1972. Image credit: NASA.
In addition to lunar earthquake measurements, this approach also eliminates space junk.
In the '60s and '80s, humans left at least 50 pieces of debris in space similar to the second stage of the Falcon 9 rocket.
Experts believe that the impact is an opportunity for countries to consider managing space junk.
reference
https://earthsky.org/space/spacex-falcon-9-crash-into-moon-mar-4-2022/
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