A large piece of a SpaceX rocket, roughly the size of a school bus, has crashed into the Moon, creating a new impact crater on its surface.
According to scientists, the rocket stage had been drifting through space for years after completing its mission before its orbit eventually brought it into a collision with the Moon. Because the Moon has virtually no atmosphere, the object struck the surface at high speed, leaving a noticeable crater.
The impact posed no danger to people on Earth, but it has attracted the interest of astronomers and space researchers studying how human-made objects interact with celestial bodies.
Scientists say such impacts provide valuable information about the Moon's surface and the effects of high-speed collisions. They also highlight the growing issue of space debris, as more rocket stages and defunct spacecraft remain in orbit or travel through deep space after completing their missions.
The incident has renewed calls for improved management of space debris and more sustainable practices in future space exploration to reduce the accumulation of abandoned objects beyond Earth.