SpaceX Rocket Stage to Smash into Moon at 5,400 mph
A 3-ton SpaceX rocket stage is set to crash into the moon at 5,400 mph, seven times the speed of sound, in a controlled impact observed by NASA and South Korea's lunar orbiters. The event will deliver energy equivalent to three tons of TNT, with scientists monitoring its effects on the moon's surface.
Key points
- The upper stage of a SpaceX rocket, which delivered two lunar landers in early 2025, is expected to hit the moon at 5,400 mph (8,690 kph).
- NASA's Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter and South Korea's Danuri lunar orbiter will capture before-and-after photos of the impact site.
- The impact is expected to deliver energy equivalent to three tons of TNT, with scientists monitoring its effects on the moon's surface.
- This controlled impact is a rare opportunity for researchers to study the effects of an object impacting the moon while being observed.
- NASA has previously conducted similar experiments, including the 2009 LCROSS mission, which crashed a probe near the moon's south pole in search of ice.
SpaceX Rocket Stage to Smash into Moon at 5,400 mph
A 3-ton SpaceX rocket stage is set to crash into the moon at 5,400 mph, seven times the speed of sound, in a controlled impact observed by NASA and South Korea's lunar orbiters. The event will deliver energy equivalent to three tons of TNT, with scientists monitoring its effects on the moon's surface.
This controlled impact is a rare opportunity for researchers to study the effects of an object impacting the moon while being observed. NASA's Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter and South Korea's Danuri lunar orbiter will capture before-and-after photos of the impact site, providing valuable data for scientists.
The impact is expected to deliver energy equivalent to three tons of TNT, with scientists monitoring its effects on the moon's surface. This event is a significant opportunity for researchers to gain insights into the moon's geology and composition.
Sources
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