space debris

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A discarded SpaceX rocket is on a high-speed collision course with the moon
2 months ago
- A discarded SpaceX rocket upper stage is on a collision course with the moon, expected to impact on Wednesday at 5,400 mph near Einstein Crater.
- The impact is accidental and highlights the growing problem of space debris cluttering Earth's orbit.
- This will be the second known accidental lunar crash by a rocket, following a Chinese rocket segment in 2022.
- The crash will release energy equivalent to three tons of TNT, creating a crater about 90 feet wide and 16 feet deep, visible to spacecraft but not Earth-based telescopes.
- Scientists plan to observe the event using NASA's Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter and South Korea's Danuri orbiter to study debris risks for future astronauts.
- The abandoned rocket stage, measuring 40 feet and weighing 10,000 pounds, launched two private lunar landers in January 2025.
Unplanned impact: NASA says SpaceX rocket parts could hit Moon
2 months ago
- A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket upper stage from January 2025 is projected to accidentally crash into the Moon on August 5, 2026.
- The impact may not be visible from Earth; NASA considers it very difficult to see, though experts debate whether a dust cloud could be illuminated by the Sun.
- The debris piece weighs about four tonnes and travels at over two kilometers per second.
- This unplanned collision highlights the growing issue of space debris; a similar incident occurred four years ago involving a Chinese rocket stage.
Australia space agency has found 'likely source' of mystery space balls
3 months ago
- The Australian Space Agency identified the likely source of mysterious space balls found on Forrest Beach in northern Queensland as pressure vessels from a space launch vehicle.
- A 50-meter exclusion zone was established, and the public was warned not to touch any suspicious objects due to potential hazardous substances, with emergency services called for any encounters.
- Crews in protective suits placed the spheres in hazmat barrels under police guard amid concerns they might contain flammable or reactive materials like residual propellant.
- The objects' location and characteristics align with debris from a foreign rocket body that recently re-entered the atmosphere from orbit, according to the ASA's statement.
- Similar incidents have occurred before, such as a metal dome from an Indian rocket washing up in Western Australia in 2023 and a spherical object found in Namibia in 2011, likely from unmanned rockets.
Strange Balls found on Queensland beaches could be toxic 'space debris': experts
3 months ago
- Spherical objects washed up on Queensland beaches are suspected to be hazardous space debris, prompting warnings from authorities.
- Half a dozen objects were collected along the coastline, leading to a temporary 50-meter exclusion zone at Forrest Beach.
- Residents are advised not to touch the objects and to call emergency services if found, as they may contain toxic hydrazine fuel.
- The debris likely originated from rocket launches, with similarities to titanium alloy hydrazine tanks used in spacecraft.
- Previous space debris incidents in Australia include Skylab fragments, a SpaceX Dragon trunk, and a pressure vessel.
- The Australian Space Agency recommends reporting such findings for technical assessment and international liaison.

space debris

A discarded SpaceX rocket is on a high-speed collision course with the moon

Unplanned impact: NASA says SpaceX rocket parts could hit Moon

Australia space agency has found 'likely source' of mystery space balls

Strange Balls found on Queensland beaches could be toxic 'space debris': experts