Rogue Rocket's Moon Crash Site Spotted By NASA Probe (space.com) 16
The grave of a rocket body that slammed into the moon more than three months ago has been found. Space.com reports: Early this year, astronomers determined that a mysterious rocket body was on course to crash into the lunar surface on March 4. Their calculations suggested that the impact would occur inside Hertzsprung Crater, a 354-mile-wide (570 kilometers) feature on the far side of the moon. Their math was on the money, it turns out. Researchers with NASA's Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter (LRO) mission announced last night (June 23) that the spacecraft had spotted a new crater in Hertzsprung -- almost certainly the resting place of the rogue rocket.
Actually, LRO imagery shows that the impact created two craters, an eastern one about 59 feet (18 meters) wide superimposed over a western one roughly 52 feet (16 m) across. "The double crater was unexpected and may indicate that the rocket body had large masses at each end," Mark Robinson of Arizona State University, the principal investigator of the Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter Camera (LROC), wrote in an update last night. "Typically a spent rocket has mass concentrated at the motor end; the rest of the rocket stage mainly consists of an empty fuel tank," he added. "Since the origin of the rocket body remains uncertain, the double nature of the crater may help to indicate its identity."
As Robinson noted, the moon-crashing rocket remains mysterious. Early speculation held that it was likely the upper stage of the SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket that launched the Deep Space Climate Observatory (DSCOVR) mission for NASA and the U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration in February 2015. But further observations and calculations changed that thinking, leading many scientists to conclude that the rocket body was probably part of the Long March 3 booster that launched China's Chang'e 5T1 mission around the moon in October 2014. China has denied that claim.
Actually, LRO imagery shows that the impact created two craters, an eastern one about 59 feet (18 meters) wide superimposed over a western one roughly 52 feet (16 m) across. "The double crater was unexpected and may indicate that the rocket body had large masses at each end," Mark Robinson of Arizona State University, the principal investigator of the Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter Camera (LROC), wrote in an update last night. "Typically a spent rocket has mass concentrated at the motor end; the rest of the rocket stage mainly consists of an empty fuel tank," he added. "Since the origin of the rocket body remains uncertain, the double nature of the crater may help to indicate its identity."
As Robinson noted, the moon-crashing rocket remains mysterious. Early speculation held that it was likely the upper stage of the SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket that launched the Deep Space Climate Observatory (DSCOVR) mission for NASA and the U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration in February 2015. But further observations and calculations changed that thinking, leading many scientists to conclude that the rocket body was probably part of the Long March 3 booster that launched China's Chang'e 5T1 mission around the moon in October 2014. China has denied that claim.
NOAA Acronym is unambiguous (Score:5, Interesting)
Early speculation held that it was likely the upper stage of the SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket that launched the Deep Space Climate Observatory (DSCOVR) mission for NASA and the U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration in February 2015.
Why is it that NASA almost always has its name posted as an acronym but NOAA seems to have to be spelled out in so many news articles. It's not like the acronym NOAA has other meanings other than National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Even the writers at Space. com should realize NOAA is fairly well recognized by most readers.
Re:NOAA Acronym is unambiguous (Score:5, Informative)
Because everybody in the world knows what NASA is, while almost no one knows about NOAA. A quality article always explains acronyms it uses, except for those widely known.
Re: (Score:2)
Are you saying that NASA is an acronym? Interesting! What does it mean? I thought it was simply their name; "NASA" /s
Re: (Score:2)
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" A quality article always explains acronyms it uses"
-1, offtopic
The article didn't use the acronym NOAA anywhere. That was OPs complaint. You have answered a question nobody asked.
Great, let's go find out (Score:5, Insightful)
I wanna know if China is lying as usual. Should be able to figure it out from spectroscopic analysis.
Re: (Score:2)
Nah, not his time, it's obviously an abandoned alien ship which crashed there hence the two craters!
Re:Great, let's go find out (Score:4, Interesting)
I know you're trolling, but visual spectra can sometimes identify country of origin. The outer (visual) layer of a rocket varies, because every country & rocket program has their own favorite type of paint.
It's a little late now, but if someone kept a record of the spectrum of the object in question, that may help narrow down who made it.
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If the different nations' rockets use different alloys in their construction, you don't even need paint. You can ID alloys with laser spectroscopy, too. For example the technology is now being used to sort aluminum scrap, which is worthwhile because unlike steel, recycled aluminum has all the same properties as the original alloy (less any heat treating of course, but it can simply be treated again.)
Anyone else imagine a much older crash? (Score:2)
For the briefest moment my mind went to there having been found, instead, a crashed rocket of indeterminate age and origin.
Alice Cramden? (Score:2)
Again?
Electric Vehicle Anyone? (Score:2)
Is the second crater shaped like a red Tesla roadster?