Share to ClassroomOld SpaceX Rocket Will Hit the Moon
A piece of an old SpaceX rocket will crash into the Moon on Wednesday. It has floated in space for more than a year. Space expert Bill Gray says it will hit at about 5,400 miles per hour— seven times faster than sound. The crash will dig a new hole, called a crater, and throw up dust.
The rocket was never meant to go to the Moon. It launched in January 2025 carrying two small spacecraft. After that, it had no fuel to come home or fly deeper into space. Gravity slowly pulled it towards the Moon. Experts say the crash could have been avoided. It is only the second dead rocket to hit the Moon by accident. A Chinese rocket part hit it in 2022.
For scientists, the crash is a rare chance to learn. They say the hole will measure 66 to 98 feet across and 16 feet deep. That is too small to see from Earth, but spacecraft can photograph it. One study says dust will fly up 47 miles or more. The flash of light will last less than a second. NASA (the US space agency) and South Korea will photograph the place. This will help them learn if space junk is dangerous for future astronauts.
