--- title: "NASA Spots Location Where Derelict Rocket Smashed Into the Moon" description: "Scientists have discovered a newly-formed double crater on the far side of the Moon, where they believe a defunct spacecraft hurtled into the lunar surface." date: "2022-06-24" modified: "2022-06-24" authors: - name: "Maggie Harrison Dupré" job_title: "Senior Staff Writer" link: "https://futurism.com/authors/mharrison" url: "https://futurism.com/the-byte/nasa-location-rocket-smashed-moon" categories: - "Astronomy" - "Moon" - "NASA" - "Space" tags: - "china" - "space debris" - "space debris crash" - "the digest" --- # NASA Spots Location Where Derelict Rocket Smashed Into the Moon ![]() *\Image: NASA/Goddard/Arizona State University\* ## Moonstruck We may finally have found closure for the saga of the [derelict rocket believed to have crashed]() into the Moon earlier this year. Scientists have discovered a newly-formed double crater on the far side of our natural satellite, [according to a NASA press release](), where they believe the defunct spacecraft smashed down. Using imagery captured by NASA's Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter (LRO), astronomers were able to deduce that the mystery space debris — [spotted on collision course]() for the Moon back in February — crash-landed near the Hertzsprung Crater in early March. The scientific community also seems very pleased that the debris made lunar contact pretty much right where they thought it would. "Newton wins again," joked Jonathan McDowell, an astrophysicist at the Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics, in an [email to]()*[ Gizmodo]()*. ## Crash Into You The ramshackle rocket has faced its [fair share of controversy](). When the hunk of junk was first caught speeding towards the lunar surface, it was believed to a SpaceX second stage Falcon 9 craft — an allegation that CEO Elon Musk took a lot of heat for. But further observation revealed otherwise, and now [experts believe]() that the unfortunate debris was actually a Chinese Chang'e 5-T1 booster, left over from the nation's 2014 mission to the Moon. China, however, [denies any responsibility](), insisting that the Chang'e shuttle in question was eviscerated when re-entering Earth's atmosphere. ## Double Double The fact that the Definitely Not Chinese rocket created a double crater raises its own questions. As *Gizmodo* points out, it's a strange mark for any spacecraft to make; NASA speculates that the "unexpected" impact shape implies that the space trash must have had "large masses at each end," which doesn't necessarily check out for a Chang'e. So, maybe we don't have closure after all? In any case, it's a bummer that humankind has officially hurled [even more garbage]() at our lunar friend in the sky. This is why we can't have nice things. **READ MORE:** [*Likely Crash Site of Mystery Space Junk Spotted on Moon’s Far Side*]() \[*Gizmodo*\] **More on space junk:** [*Russia Forced to Dodge Space Debris From When It Blew Up Satellite*]() ## Author At Futurism, I've reported extensively on the rise of AI as a cultural and business force shaping the media industry, and more broadly how those dynamics are changing how we all consume and share information and relate to one another. I'm also fascinated by public health policy and ethics, the role of emerging tech in politics and governance — and the powerful people and forces at those intersections — climate change, and the environment. My investigation on Sports Illustrated's use of AI-generated authors with fictional biographies won a 2024 Mirror Award for "Best Story on Media Coverage of Artificial Intelligence in Journalism and the Media" from Syracuse University's SI Newhouse School, I contributed to Niemen Lab's 2025 Predictions for Journalism series, and I've discussed my work for Futurism during appearances on NPR, CNN, the BBC, the CBC, and more. I grew up in rural Pennsylvania and attended the University of Massachusetts Amherst, where I played Division I field hockey for the Minutewomen as a midfielder. Since then, I've lived in New Orleans, Louisiana and Manhattan, New York. I spend my free time running, reading, perusing archival fashion, and searching for the world’s best negroni. I also have a debonair tuxedo cat, Westley, who's named after "The Princess Bride." ### Author social links [Bluesky]()