{
  "id": 1846797,
  "title": "Before-and-after NASA images show crater carved by a SpaceX rocket that slammed into the moon",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/18/before-and-after-nasa-images-show-crater-carved-by-a-spacex-rocket-1846797",
  "topic": "science",
  "section": "Science",
  "published": "2026-08-18T21:39:58.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "CityNews",
    "slug": "citynews",
    "url": "https://toronto.citynews.ca/2026/08/18/before-and-after-nasa-images-show-crater-carved-by-a-spacex-rocket-that-slammed-into-the-moon/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. (AP) — NASA's Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter has captured the sharpest images yet of a crater caused by a SpaceX rocket's impact on the moon. The crash occurred on August 5 when the Falcon rocket's upper stage slammed into the lunar surface at 5,400 mph (8,700 kph), launching two private moon landers into space, including a tiny rover. According to scientists, the fresh crater is approximately 60 feet (18 meters) wide and less than 10 feet (3 meters) deep. Dark and bright streaks emanate from the impact area, with the darker lines representing material excavated from close to the surface and the brighter rays indicating fresh rocks and dirt that were hurled from deeper within the lunar crust. The spacecraft captured the crater a week after the collision from a distance of 60 miles (96 kilometers), while traveling at a speed of one mile per second. Initially, the impact scene was out of view, but the orbiter managed to photograph it after six days of observation, after tilting its cameras to point toward the area.",
  "summary": "CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. (AP) — A NASA spacecraft circling the moon is providing the sharpest views yet of the crater carved by a crashing SpaceX rocket.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 10,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "NASA Science",
        "title": "NASA’s LRO Images Falcon 9 Crater on Moon, Learns New Details",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/18/nasas-lro-images-falcon-9-crater-on-moon-learns-new-details",
        "published": "2026-08-18T18:49:50.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Winnipeg Free Press",
        "title": "Before-and-after NASA images show crater carved by a SpaceX rocket that slammed into the moon",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/18/before-and-after-nasa-images-show-crater-carved-by-a-spacex-rocket",
        "published": "2026-08-18T21:39:58.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Phys.org",
        "title": "NASA's LRO images Falcon 9 crater on moon, learns new details",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/18/nasas-lro-images-falcon-9-crater-on-moon-learns-new-details-1812459",
        "published": "2026-08-18T21:50:01.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Associated Press",
        "title": "Before-and-after NASA images show crater carved by a SpaceX rocket that slammed into the moon",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/18/before-and-after-nasa-images-show-crater-carved-by-a-spacex-rocket-1810318",
        "published": "2026-08-18T21:53:02.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "CBS News",
        "title": "NASA images show 60-foot-wide crater on moon after SpaceX rocket booster crash",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/18/nasa-images-show-60-foot-wide-crater-on-moon-after-spacex-rocket",
        "published": "2026-08-18T22:53:00.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "New Straits Times",
        "title": "NASA images reveal crater left by SpaceX rocket's Moon crash",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/18/nasa-images-reveal-crater-left-by-spacex-rockets-moon-crash",
        "published": "2026-08-18T23:33:19.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Gulf News",
        "title": "Before-and-after NASA images show crater carved by a SpaceX rocket that slammed into the moon",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/19/before-and-after-nasa-images-show-crater-carved-by-a-spacex-rocket",
        "published": "2026-08-19T01:22:48.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Le Monde English",
        "title": "NASA images show crater on moon left by SpaceX rocket",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/19/nasa-images-show-crater-on-moon-left-by-spacex-rocket",
        "published": "2026-08-19T01:50:26.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "NDTV",
        "title": "NASA Releases Images Of Moon Crater Carved By Crashed SpaceX Rocket",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/19/nasa-releases-images-of-moon-crater-carved-by-crashed-spacex-rocket",
        "published": "2026-08-19T01:55:31.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "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."
}