For example, designate a lunar area for 'flooding' of old spacecraft…
For example, designate a lunar area for 'flooding' of old spacecraft and their upper stages. The scientist emphasized that this is not the first unplanned object impact on the Moon.
Consensus
- The second stage of a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket impacted the Moon on August 5.
- The impact occurred due to insufficient fuel, preventing the stage from returning to Earth and burning up in the atmosphere.
- The stage was traveling at approximately 8,690–8,700 km/h at the time of impact.
- The crash created a crater about 20 meters in diameter.
- The energy released was equivalent to about 4 tons of TNT.
- Russian scientists from the Institute of Space Research (IKI RAN) are calling for a discussion on creating a designated area on the Moon for the controlled disposal of space debris.
- Future lunar missions, including crewed flights and base construction, are expected to increase in the next decade.
- Unplanned impacts on the Moon are not new, and many early lunar satellites were lost without tracking.
- It is currently impossible to influence the trajectory of such objects once they are in space.
Points of divergence
- The stage was following behind two modules: the American Blue Ghost and the Japanese Resilience. — fontanka
- The stage was launched in January of the previous year (2024). — interfax
- The stage was launched in January 2025. — vesti
Coverage (3 sources)
- Russian scientists proposed creating a 'cemetery' for space debris on the Moon — Фонтанка
- Scientists proposed designating a lunar area for rocket stage falls — Вести
- At IKI RAN proposed to allocate a lunar area for the landing of old spacecraft and rocket stages — Интерфакс