Space rocket finally lands on moon and opens debate over space debris

Finally, the moon has one more crater. Experts say a level of a rocket that has been hovering in space for years crashed into it on Friday, but it will take patience to see it in pictures, as it cannot be observed directly. According to astronomer Bill Gray, who first detected the impending collision, the moon’s distance struck at 12:25 GMT. The cylindrical object was moving at a speed of 9,000 km / h and may have formed a crater 10 to 20 m in diameter.”He told the AFP.

Its path was calculated by observations made by telescopes on Earth. “We have a lot of data on this subject” “This morning,” said Bill Gray, who estimates it hit the moon. The identification of the rocket in question is debatable because no one officially deals with recording and tracking space debris in deep space.

Gray, who developed the software used by NASA-funded tracking programs, has been monitoring them so they are not misunderstood as asteroids, so no time is wasted studying them. Originally thought to be the remains of the SpaceX rocket, but eventually it was discovered to be a Chinese ship. In particular from a phase of the Long March rocket, which was launched in 2014 as the Chang’e 5-D1, as part of the country’s lunar exploration program.

Beijing denied it, promising that the platform had “safely entered the Earth’s atmosphere” and “completely burned out”. But according to Gray, China confused two missions with identical names and actually talks about the rocket that was later launched.

However, this abyss can only be seen by NASA’s LRO (Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter) study or India’s Chandrayaan-2. The U.S. space agency confirmed in January that it wanted to find the abyss, but warned that the operation could take “weeks”.

According to Gray, two studies could monitor the entire lunar zone once a month. It is not uncommon for rocket positions to lag behind in the universe, but this is the first time an unexpected collision with the moon has been identified. In the past, rocket positions have been launched into the star for scientific purposes.

NASA conducted a similar experiment in 2009, which deliberately crashed the lunar crater observation and sensitivity satellite, or LCROSS, into a permanently shaded abyss south of the moon. This is an event that also opens the discussion of how Space junk This can start to become a real problem not only for us, but for our entire cosmic ‘environment’. At least close.

NASA’s Lunar Study Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter (LRO) will be responsible for the search and, most likely, their investigations will bear fruit in a few weeks. According to the publication Scientific American‘There was an impact nearby Hertspring grooveThere is some of this 570 km in diameterBut there are currently no definitive estimates.

Pablo Hein, an assistant professor of astronomy and planetary science at the University of Colorado, described the unplanned impact. “An exciting opportunity”. The scientist said: “The Moon has been a definite witness to the history of the solar system, with its crater surface recording countless collisions over the past 4 billion years. However, scientists rarely get the view of the craters that make up these craters, usually asteroids or comets. Without knowing the details of how a crater formed, scientists can not learn much from studying it. “.

This impact will provide a casual experiment, revealing a great deal about how natural collisions strike and roll on planetary surfaces. Researchers will have additional tools to explain the arid landscape of the moon and its effects on Earth and other planets.

As Hein explains, there is currently some debate about the exact identification of an object falling in orbit around the Moon. “Astronomers know it as a high-level booster rejected by the high-altitude satellite Eve, which is approximately 12 meters long and weighs about 10,000 pounds (4,500 kilograms). Evidence suggests that it may have been a SpaceX rocket launched in 2015 or a Chinese rocket launched in 2014, but both sides have denied ownership.”He explained.

After the rocket lands on the lunar surface, a shock wave travels with the projectile at a speed of several miles per second. “In milliseconds, the rear of the rocket surface will be destroyed by pieces of metal exploding in all directions.” The scientist had said.

A double shock wave is called regolith on the top layer of dust on the surface of the moon. “The summary of the impact heats up the dust and rocks and creates a red-hot flash visible from space if there is a spacecraft at that time.. As dust and sand-sized particles are thrown into the sky, the cloud of evaporated rock and metal expands from the point of impact. In a few minutes, the ejected material will rain again on the surface around the abyss where it is now smoking. There’s almost nothing on the unfortunate rocket, “Hein added.

This accidental tomorrow’s crash test will allow planetary scientists to observe a very similar abyss during the day. It’s like seeing the LCROSS abyss in full detail for the first time.

Space junk

It will not be in the view of ground-based telescopes as it will have an impact on the lunar distance. “But two weeks after the impact, NASA’s lunar reconstruction will begin to see it as it moves the Orbiter abyss above its orbital impact zone. When the conditions are right, the lunar orbit camera will start taking pictures of the impact site at a resolution of about 3 feet (1 meter) per pixel. Other space agencies’ lunar orbits also allow their cameras to focus on the abyss. “

The shape of the crater and the amount of dust and rocks emitted are expected to reveal how the rocket was deflected during the impact. A vertical orientation will create a more rounded feature, while an asymmetrical rubbish shape may indicate a belly shrinkage.“Models suggest the trench may be 30 to 100 meters in diameter and 2 to 3 meters deep.”Done.

George Cochlear, Founder, President and Director of the CODE Astronomy, Meteorological Laboratory and Space Museum, at the CODE Space Research Center Astronomy Lab in Santa Fe, Before yesterday Infobe: “It’s on the other side of the moon, on the dark side, so there will only be images from the EH probe in the moon’s orbit.

Director of the Department of Geophysics and Astronomy, Faculty of Precision, Physics and Natural Sciences (FCEFN) Ricardo Podesta added. Infobae: “It will be 9:25 am (local time) According to the data provided, the diameter of the groove to be produced will vary 20 meters. The impact will be very significant. It will be on the hidden side of the moon. We can not see that. “

Space debris discussion

How should we all feel this impending impact? JJohn Crocidis, a space debris expert at the University of Buffalo, chose to say, “This is not a big deal.” First, the disappearance of this rocket will not disturb Earth’s alabaster orbit. As its grooved surface stabilizes, our natural satellite can shake all sorts of substantial feet. “Don’t worry, the moon will still be there,” Crocitis said.

The rocket will join the piles of many space debris already scattered on the surface of the moon. “This rocket, now, I don’t think it’s a big deal.” Said Alice Gorman, a space archaeologist at Flinders University in Australia. It sets an example that we should not worry about anyway.

The only legitimate concern about this immediate impact is that it accurately predicts our future. The United States, China, Russia and other countries are increasingly expecting the moon to be mankind’s first alien outpost. “Hope we’ll be back to stay” Said Reddy, co-director of the University of Arizona Space Awareness Laboratory. “And you do not want it raining on people if they live there.”

“Since vehicles have been sent to the moon for more than half a century, you should not take this as lunar invasion or pollution or as much rubbish as is commonly said.”, Closed cochlear.

With information from AFP

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