In a groundbreaking study published today, the puzzle surrounds the mystery Lunar accident Occurred on March 4, 2022, is definitively closed, according to a report in the journal Planetary Science. Space.com.
A rocket crashed into the far side of the moon, creating a strange sight. Double grooveIt is approximately 95 feet (29 meters) wide. The event was anticipated by astronomers who had diligently tracked the rogue rocket’s erratic path for weeks, precisely predicting the exact location and time of impact.
The primary mystery surrounded the identity of the impact, designated WE0913A by astronomers. Early observations indicated the possibility that it was the upper stage of SpaceX’s Falcon 9 rocket, which was responsible for launching the DSCOVR satellite in February 2015. However, that led astronomers to identify a different culprit: China’s Long March 3C, the third and upper stage rocket that launched the undeveloped Chang’e 5-T1 mission around the moon in October 2014.
Confirming their earlier conclusion, the team of researchers University of Arizona (UA) provided a trajectory and spectroscopic analysis in a study led by Tanner Campbell, a doctoral student in UA’s Department of Aerospace and Mechanical Engineering. A study published Thursday (Nov. 16) leaves no doubt that WE0913A is indeed the long March 3C rocket body (R/B) of the Chang’e 5-T1 mission.
Despite this confirmation, China has denied the findings, insisting that the top layer of the Long March 3C burned off. EarthThe atmosphere of the Chang’e 5-T1 shortly after its launch. That contradicts a statement from the US Space Command, which denied the claim last year, insisting the object did not re-enter Earth’s atmosphere.
The new study not only solves the mystery of the identity of the impact, but also provides further insights into the unique crater that resulted from the lunar impact in March 2022.
The researchers analyzed WE0913A’s light curve and compared it to thousands of hypothetical space objects generated by computer simulations. The findings revealed unique characteristics, with the material behaving like a stationary, dangling dumbbell. This behavior is attributed to the considerable mass at each end, primarily the two engines in the upper position, which weigh 2,400 pounds (1,090 kilograms) without fuel.
Lead researcher Tanner Campbell noted, “This is the first time we’ve seen a double crater in a lunar impact,” highlighting the equally sized craters that result from the steady fall of a rocket body. The mysterious mass, assumed to be too large for standard instrument decks, remains unidentified, leaving scientists to speculate about its nature and purpose.
As the scientific community unravels the mysteries of this lunar phenomenon, the confirmation of WE0913A’s origin marks a significant milestone in celestial exploration.
A rocket crashed into the far side of the moon, creating a strange sight. Double grooveIt is approximately 95 feet (29 meters) wide. The event was anticipated by astronomers who had diligently tracked the rogue rocket’s erratic path for weeks, precisely predicting the exact location and time of impact.
The primary mystery surrounded the identity of the impact, designated WE0913A by astronomers. Early observations indicated the possibility that it was the upper stage of SpaceX’s Falcon 9 rocket, which was responsible for launching the DSCOVR satellite in February 2015. However, that led astronomers to identify a different culprit: China’s Long March 3C, the third and upper stage rocket that launched the undeveloped Chang’e 5-T1 mission around the moon in October 2014.
Confirming their earlier conclusion, the team of researchers University of Arizona (UA) provided a trajectory and spectroscopic analysis in a study led by Tanner Campbell, a doctoral student in UA’s Department of Aerospace and Mechanical Engineering. A study published Thursday (Nov. 16) leaves no doubt that WE0913A is indeed the long March 3C rocket body (R/B) of the Chang’e 5-T1 mission.
Despite this confirmation, China has denied the findings, insisting that the top layer of the Long March 3C burned off. EarthThe atmosphere of the Chang’e 5-T1 shortly after its launch. That contradicts a statement from the US Space Command, which denied the claim last year, insisting the object did not re-enter Earth’s atmosphere.
The new study not only solves the mystery of the identity of the impact, but also provides further insights into the unique crater that resulted from the lunar impact in March 2022.
The researchers analyzed WE0913A’s light curve and compared it to thousands of hypothetical space objects generated by computer simulations. The findings revealed unique characteristics, with the material behaving like a stationary, dangling dumbbell. This behavior is attributed to the considerable mass at each end, primarily the two engines in the upper position, which weigh 2,400 pounds (1,090 kilograms) without fuel.
Lead researcher Tanner Campbell noted, “This is the first time we’ve seen a double crater in a lunar impact,” highlighting the equally sized craters that result from the steady fall of a rocket body. The mysterious mass, assumed to be too large for standard instrument decks, remains unidentified, leaving scientists to speculate about its nature and purpose.
As the scientific community unravels the mysteries of this lunar phenomenon, the confirmation of WE0913A’s origin marks a significant milestone in celestial exploration.
