South Korea's first lunar orbiter, Danuri, is set to observe the impact of a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket stage that is expected to crash into the Moon this week, according to the Korea Aerospace Research Institute (KARI). The rocket stage, which was used to launch a satellite in 2015, has been on a chaotic trajectory and will hit the far side of the Moon on March 4, 2022.
Danuri, which entered lunar orbit in December 2022, will use its onboard instruments to study the impact crater and any resulting debris. The orbiter's high-resolution camera and other sensors will capture data that could help scientists learn more about the Moon's subsurface composition.
The impact is not expected to cause any significant damage to the Moon, but it provides a unique scientific opportunity. The exact time and location of the impact have been predicted by astronomers, and Danuri will be positioned to observe the event.
This is not the first time a spacecraft has intentionally or unintentionally hit the Moon. Previous missions have used impacts to study lunar geology, but this is the first time a commercial rocket stage will be observed in real-time by an orbiting spacecraft.
