On February 12, 2015, a Falcon 9 rocket launched from the Kennedy Space Center, marking SpaceX’s first interplanetary mission. This mission aimed to send a climate observation satellite into space. Once the satellite was deployed, the Falcon 9’s upper stage was left in a highly elliptical orbit around Earth. After spending seven years in space, astronomers predicted that it would soon crash into the Moon.
Objects in space can be held in place by the gravitational forces between the Earth and the Sun. However, the Falcon 9 didn’t have enough fuel to return to Earth and de-orbit. Over time, objects in such orbits might collide with the Earth or the Moon, or they might get a gravity assist that sends them into an orbit around the Sun. If this object is indeed space debris, it would be the first time space junk unintentionally collided with the Moon.
In the past, scientists have intentionally crashed space debris into the Moon to gather data. For example, in 2009, NASA launched a satellite to detect water on the Moon’s southern pole. After separating from the satellite, the Centaur rocket stage was deliberately crashed into the Moon. The resulting debris plume allowed the satellite to collect samples, confirming the presence of water on the Moon.
When this object strikes the Moon, it is unlikely to be visible to any satellites. Predicting the exact time and place of the impact is challenging because the object is only visible for short periods. Initially, astronomers observed it making a close flyby of the Moon, and its brightness suggested it was a rocket booster, leading them to label it as the Falcon 9 upper stage. For seven years, this object was largely forgotten until recent observations indicated it might be heading straight for the Moon.
Astronomers were able to predict the impact location within a few kilometers. Even small details, like the Earth’s shape, can significantly affect predictions. The Earth isn’t a perfect sphere; it bulges at the equator due to its spin, which can change the impact location by over 170 kilometers.
The object’s path can change when it comes close to the Moon. Some gravitational effects may be small, but inaccuracies in early predictions can accumulate and lead to significant errors. Additionally, predicting how the Sun’s radiation affects the object is complex. The Sun’s radiation exerts a small but constant force, similar to a gentle breeze. Lightweight objects like rocket boosters are more susceptible to solar winds than dense asteroids.
Despite the precise impact prediction, astronomers were mistaken about the object’s identity. After re-analyzing the Falcon 9 launch trajectory, they realized it wouldn’t have made such a close flyby of the Moon. They traced the object’s orbit back and found a possible match with the Chinese Chang’e 5 mission, which launched just a few months before the Falcon 9. This mission, launched on a Long March 3C rocket, sent a spacecraft around the Moon and back to Earth.
Further tracing revealed that it was in a lunar transfer orbit, common for rockets heading to the Moon. The ground path of this orbit could be traced back to the Chinese launch site of Xichang, showing the object heading east, consistent with a Chinese lunar mission.
Although astronomers can track this object precisely, the impact will be unobservable from Earth-based telescopes since that side of the Moon never faces us. However, some satellites orbiting the Moon will eventually pass over the impact site and capture images of the newly formed crater. This old rocket booster will become just another piece of space debris on the Moon.
In the future, when humans have a greater presence on the Moon, this rocket stage might be discovered similarly to how we find old fossils on Earth. When humans return to the Moon, they will have the opportunity to reunite with the lost space debris from the Apollo 11 mission, which has been preserved on the Moon for over 50 years.
It’s remarkable that we have the technology today to track and predict these objects, keeping us informed about everything happening in space. Speaking of staying informed, Morning Brew is a free daily newsletter that quickly updates you on finance, business, tech, and other interesting news from around the world in just five minutes. Traditional news can be dry and boring, but Morning Brew is witty, relevant, and informative.
Did you know that the Winter Olympics in Beijing will be the first to use artificial snow, requiring two million cubic meters of water? There’s no reason not to subscribe to Morning Brew if you’re interested in business, finance, or tech. It’s completely free and takes less than 15 seconds to subscribe! Click the link in the description below to join Morning Brew today. If you’d like to support the channel further, consider becoming a Patreon member, where you can provide input on each video and join our exclusive Discord server. Thank you for watching, and I’ll see you in the next video.
Research the concept of space debris and its impact on space exploration. Create a presentation that explains what space debris is, how it is tracked, and the potential risks it poses to future missions. Include examples like the Falcon 9 upper stage and discuss possible solutions to mitigate space debris.
Use a physics simulation software to model the orbital path of a rocket stage like Falcon 9’s upper stage. Experiment with different variables such as gravitational forces and solar radiation pressure. Present your findings on how these factors influence the object’s trajectory and potential collisions with celestial bodies.
Participate in a class debate on the ethical considerations of leaving space debris in orbit. Discuss the responsibilities of space agencies in managing debris and the implications of unintentional collisions with celestial bodies like the Moon. Formulate arguments for and against stricter regulations on space missions.
Write a creative story from the perspective of a piece of space debris, such as the Falcon 9 upper stage. Describe its journey through space, interactions with other objects, and eventual fate. Use this exercise to explore the lifecycle of space debris and its impact on the space environment.
Work in groups to design a conceptual system for tracking space debris. Consider the technologies needed, such as satellites and ground-based observatories, and how data would be collected and analyzed. Present your system design to the class, highlighting its potential effectiveness and challenges.
This video is supported by Morning Brew. On February 12, 2015, a Falcon 9 rocket lifted off from the Kennedy Space Center. This was SpaceX’s first interplanetary mission, sending a climate observation satellite into space. After deploying the satellite, the Falcon 9’s upper stage was left in a highly elliptical orbit around the Earth. After spending seven years in space, astronomers predicted that it would soon crash into the Moon.
The gravitational forces between the Earth and the Sun can hold objects in place, but since this point is so far away, the Falcon 9 didn’t have enough propellant left to return and de-orbit around Earth. Over time, objects in this kind of orbit either collide with the Earth or the Moon, or they come close enough to receive a gravity assist, which can slingshot them into an orbit around the Sun. If this object is indeed space debris, it would mark the first time that space junk has unintentionally collided with the Moon.
In the past, scientists have purposefully crashed their space debris into the Moon to gather data about the lunar surface. In 2009, NASA launched an observation satellite to detect water on the Moon’s southern pole. After separating from the satellite, the Centaur rocket stage purposefully crashed into the Moon at a speed of two and a half kilometers per second. As the debris plume rose 10 kilometers above the Moon’s surface, the observation satellite passed through it and collected samples. The data confirmed the presence of water on the Moon.
When this object strikes the Moon, it is unlikely to be visible to any satellites. Predicting the exact time and place of the impact is challenging, especially since the object is only visible to us for short periods. Initially, astronomers observed this object make a close flyby of the Moon, and it had the brightness expected from a rocket booster, leading them to tentatively label it as the Falcon 9 upper stage. For seven years, this object was largely forgotten until recent realizations indicated it might be heading straight for the Moon.
Astronomers were able to predict the impact location within a few kilometers. When predicting an object’s path with such precision, even small details, like the Earth’s shape, can be significant. The Earth isn’t a perfect sphere; it bulges out at the equator due to its spin. Ignoring this detail could change the impact location by over 170 kilometers.
The path of this object can change when it comes close to the Moon. Some gravitational effects may be small, but inaccuracies in early predictions can accumulate and lead to significant errors. Additionally, predicting how the Sun’s radiation affects the object is complex. The radiation from the Sun exerts a small but constant force on objects in space, similar to a gentle breeze. Lightweight artificial objects like rocket boosters have large surface areas, making them more susceptible to solar winds than dense asteroids.
Astronomers can estimate how sunlight influences this object, but predicting how sunlight reflects off it is challenging, especially since the object is constantly rotating. They measured the light variations from this object, revealing that it rotates every 90 seconds. With this information, astronomers can plot the object’s path for the near future.
On January 1, the object made a close flyby of Earth before moving back up to its highest point beyond the Moon. On January 5, it came within 10,000 kilometers of the Moon, altering its orbit slightly. It then made two more orbits of Earth before being thrown into a larger loop. The object is expected to reach its highest point one last time before crashing into the far side of the Moon on March 4 at around 2.6 kilometers per second.
Despite the precise impact prediction, astronomers were mistaken about the object’s identity. After re-analyzing the Falcon 9 launch trajectory, they realized it wouldn’t have made such a close flyby of the Moon. They traced the object’s orbit back and found a possible match with the Chinese Chang’e 5 mission, which launched just a few months before the Falcon 9. This mission, launched on a Long March 3C rocket, sent a spacecraft around the Moon and back to Earth. The rocket booster would have made a close flyby of the Moon about four days after launch.
Further tracing revealed that it was in a lunar transfer orbit, common for rockets heading to the Moon. The ground path of this orbit could be traced back to the Chinese launch site of Xichang, showing the object heading east, consistent with a Chinese lunar mission.
Although astronomers can track this object precisely, the impact will be unobservable from Earth-based telescopes since that side of the Moon never faces us. However, some satellites orbiting the Moon will eventually pass over the impact site and capture images of the newly formed crater. This old rocket booster will become just another piece of space debris on the Moon.
In the future, when humans have a greater presence on the Moon, this rocket stage might be discovered similarly to how we find old fossils on Earth. When humans return to the Moon, they will have the opportunity to reunite with the lost space debris from the Apollo 11 mission, which has been preserved on the Moon for over 50 years.
It’s remarkable that we have the technology today to track and predict these objects, keeping us informed about everything happening in space. Speaking of staying informed, Morning Brew is a free daily newsletter that quickly updates you on finance, business, tech, and other interesting news from around the world in just five minutes. Traditional news can be dry and boring, but Morning Brew is witty, relevant, and informative.
Did you know that the Winter Olympics in Beijing will be the first to use artificial snow, requiring two million cubic meters of water? There’s no reason not to subscribe to Morning Brew if you’re interested in business, finance, or tech. It’s completely free and takes less than 15 seconds to subscribe! Click the link in the description below to join Morning Brew today. If you’d like to support the channel further, consider becoming a Patreon member, where you can provide input on each video and join our exclusive Discord server. Thank you for watching, and I’ll see you in the next video.
Rocket – A vehicle or device propelled by the rapid expulsion of gases, used to transport payloads into space. – The rocket launched successfully, carrying a satellite into orbit around the Earth.
Moon – A natural satellite that orbits a planet, reflecting light from the sun. – The phases of the moon are caused by its position relative to the Earth and the sun.
Space – The vast, seemingly infinite expanse beyond Earth’s atmosphere where celestial bodies exist. – Astronauts train extensively to prepare for the challenges of living and working in space.
Debris – Fragments of objects, often from defunct satellites or spent rocket stages, that orbit Earth and pose a risk to spacecraft. – Scientists are developing methods to track and remove space debris to prevent collisions.
Orbit – The curved path of an object around a star, planet, or moon, especially a periodic elliptical revolution. – The International Space Station maintains a low Earth orbit, allowing it to circle the planet multiple times a day.
Astronomers – Scientists who study celestial bodies, space, and the universe as a whole. – Astronomers use telescopes to observe distant galaxies and understand the universe’s origins.
Gravity – The force of attraction between two masses, such as the Earth and objects on it, which gives weight to physical objects. – Gravity is responsible for keeping the planets in orbit around the sun.
Impact – The collision of a meteorite or other celestial body with a planet or moon. – The impact of a large asteroid is believed to have caused the extinction of the dinosaurs.
Sun – The star at the center of our solar system, providing light and heat to the planets orbiting it. – The sun’s energy is crucial for life on Earth, driving weather patterns and photosynthesis.
Fuel – A substance consumed to produce energy, often used to power rockets and other vehicles. – Liquid hydrogen and oxygen are commonly used as rocket fuel due to their high efficiency.
