Before-and-after NASA images show crater carved by a SpaceX rocket that slammed into the moon
CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. (AP) — A NASA spacecraft circling the moon is providing the sharpest views yet of the crater carved by a crashing…
CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. (AP) — NASA's Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter has captured striking before-and-after images of a lunar crater formed by a SpaceX rocket's upper stage impacting the moon's surface. The collision occurred on August 5, 2026, when a Falcon rocket's upper stage, traveling at 5,400 mph (8,700 kph), struck the moon after a year-long journey.
The impact site, visible in the new photos, is approximately 60 feet (18 meters) in diameter and less than 10 feet (3 meters) deep. Dark streaks emanating from the crater indicate material excavated from the surface, while brighter rays suggest fresh rocks and dirt ejected from deeper within the lunar crust. The images were taken a week after the collision from a distance of 60 miles (96 kilometers) above the lunar surface.
The orbiter had to be tilted to capture the impact area, which was only visible after six days due to the moon's rotation. South Korea's Danuri spacecraft was the first to observe the crash site, beaming back images before NASA's orbiter.
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