{
  "id": 1823329,
  "title": "New images show moon crater carved by SpaceX rocket",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/18/new-images-show-moon-crater-carved-by-spacex-rocket",
  "topic": "science",
  "section": "Science",
  "published": "2026-08-18T23:22:03.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "The Korea Times",
    "slug": "the-korea-times",
    "url": "https://www.koreatimes.co.kr/world/20260819/new-images-show-moon-crater-carved-by-spacex-rocket"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. — NASA's Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter has captured the clearest images yet of the crater formed by a SpaceX rocket crash-landing on the moon. The photos released on Tuesday reveal the impact site left by a Falcon rocket's upper stage, which collided with the lunar surface at a staggering speed of 5,400 mph (8,700 kph) on August 5, 2022. After cruising through space for over a year, the rocket launched two private moon landers, including a miniature rover, for NASA's plans to commercialize lunar exploration. According to scientists analyzing the new images, the resulting crater measures approximately 60 feet (18 meters) in diameter and is less than 10 feet (3 meters) deep. Dark and bright streaks radiate from the crater like butterfly wings, with the darker lines indicating excavated material from the surface, shaped by centuries of solar wind, cosmic rays, and micrometeorites. In contrast, the brighter streaks highlight fresh rocks and dirt that were ejected from deeper within the moon.",
  "summary": "CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. — A NASA spacecraft circling the moon is providing the sharpest views yet of the crater carved by a crashing SpaceX rocket . The space agency released before-and-after photos of the impact area on Tuesday. The Falcon rocket’s upper stage plowed into the moon at 5,400 mph (8,700 kph) on Aug. 5 after drifting through space for more than a year. It launched a pair of private…",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 4,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "The Sydney Morning Herald",
        "title": "WA news LIVE: SpaceX rocket lands in ocean off Christmas Island",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/18/wa-news-live-spacex-rocket-lands-in-ocean-off-christmas-island",
        "published": "2026-08-18T23:30:11.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "The Age",
        "title": "WA news LIVE: SpaceX rocket lands in ocean off Christmas Island",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/18/wa-news-live-spacex-rocket-lands-in-ocean-off-christmas-island-1825839",
        "published": "2026-08-18T23:30:11.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "The Korea Times",
        "title": "New images show moon crater carved by SpaceX rocket",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/18/new-images-show-moon-crater-carved-by-spacex-rocket-1825018",
        "published": "2026-08-18T23:32:03.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}