Fact Check: SpaceX Rocket Hitting the Moon

[deluxestogie]

On March 4, 2022, a spent booster from a SpaceX rocket launch years ago will impact the Moon.

Fact Check:

Despite common belief, experts assure us that the above photo is not the SpaceX booster striking the Moon. It is from Georges Méliès' Trip to the Moon in 1902. I'm not sure how he got there, or how he shot this amazing photo, but it is definitely not SpaceX.

Bob

 

[deluxestogie]

A rocket is still set to slam into the Moon next month — but it may not be from SpaceX after all
Mistaken rocket identity

"Gray is fairly convinced that this object is a leftover piece of a Chinese rocket, specifically a Long March 3C that launched China’s Chang’e 5-T1 mission to the Moon. That flight was a precursor mission that sent a capsule looping around the Moon and careening back to Earth, to test out technology China would use to bring samples of lunar dirt back to our planet."

A rocket is still set to slam into the Moon next month — but it may not be from SpaceX after all

It’s most likely a leftover Chinese rocket booster.

www.theverge.com

Oops!

Bob

 

[Redleaf]

Struggling to understand the hype around Jeff Bezos and Richard Branson going to space when a guy from Wigan (and his dog) reached the moon in a homemade rocket in 1989? Why is the media silent on this?

 

[deluxestogie]

A Grand Day Out - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

 

[deluxestogie]

The leftover rocket will smash into the far side of the moon at 5,800 mph (9,300 kph) on Friday (4 MAR 2022). This is what it looks like already.

It may take weeks or months for lunar satellite imaging to figure out where it hit.

Bob

 

[deluxestogie]

On Friday at 7:25 a.m. ET (1225h UTC)...

 

[deluxestogie]

Well, I didn't hear a thing.

Bob

 

[deluxestogie]

The rocket debris landed somewhere here, within the Hertzsprung: basin.

No satellite has been able to visualize it yet.

Bob