Part of a rocket crashed into the Moon – why this could threaten future lunar bases

On Wednesday, a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket's upper stage collided with the Moon after successfully delivering two robotic landers. According to The Conversation, the impact excavated a crater several meters across—a moment that scientists are studying, but also a warning. SpaceX says that controlled de-orbit burns aren't always possible for high-energy lunar missions; in this case, solar activity and gravity pulled the spent stage into collision with the lunar surface. For now, the Moon is uninhabited and the impact caused no damage to active infrastructure. But as multiple nations prepare to establish crewed lunar bases, the accumulation of spent rocket parts in lunar orbit and on collision courses with the surface becomes a pressing concern—something any long-term base would want to avoid.

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