More than three months after the collision, observations by the American space agency NASA have confirmed an unplanned impact of a rocket component on the moon for the first time. Two craters from the March 4 impact can be seen in images from the Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter probe.
An eastern crater has a diameter of 18 meters, a western one of 16 meters. The impact on the far side of the moon could not be observed or measured live in early March, because there were no associated probes, telescopes or measuring instruments at the time.
The discovery of two craters was “unexpected,” it said, indicating it’s a rocket carrying larger payloads at both ends. That could provide clues about the rocket’s identity – because exactly what hit the moon was initially unclear.
At first it was part of a SpaceX rocket, but then the scientists corrected themselves: it was part of an ancient Chinese rocket, probably the launcher of the “Chang’e 5-T1” mission, launched in 2014 through the earth had been shot into space. However, China had denied these reports.
However, after analyzing the recordings, it is now clear that this object does not come from a NASA mission, according to a spokesperson for the American space agency. The impact is the first known unplanned collision of a rocket component with the moon, but there have been several planned impacts in the past for research purposes.
Source: Krone
I’m Wayne Wickman, a professional journalist and author for Today Times Live. My specialty is covering global news and current events, offering readers a unique perspective on the world’s most pressing issues. I’m passionate about storytelling and helping people stay informed on the goings-on of our planet.
