A SpaceX rocket will crash into the moon on Wednesday. It’s a symptom of something much worse
The upper stage of a Falcon 9 rocket is now zooming through space at 5,400 mph on a direct collision course with the moon. It will leave a small crater and a plume of lunar debris near Einstein Crater, on the sunlit western limb of the moon. You may think that’s fine. It is not, not really. The moon is not Manhattan, sure, but that doesn’t make this any less concerning. The problem is that this…
A SpaceX rocket's upper stage is set to crash into the moon on August 5, 2025. This event is not merely a harmless occurrence; it is indicative of a larger issue. According to astrophysicist Jonathan McDowell, while this particular impact may not pose an immediate danger, it signals a worrying trend. If long-term lunar bases are to be established, similar impacts could become problematic.
Unless we can prevent reckless use of space by companies like SpaceX and Blue Origin, we can expect to hear similar stories in the future. Unless these entities start designing their mission plans to dispose of waste safely, we can anticipate a growing number of such incidents. The race to the moon is intensifying, with both the United States and China planning to set up bases and mine operations in the coming years.
This escalating competition will lead to an increase in space trash, making it imperative to ensure safe disposal of these materials.
Written by urgent.news from Fast Company's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — it may contain errors, so check the original before relying on it.
