science π Space junk is old news on the moon π
A recent SpaceX Falcon 9 stage impact on the moon was not the first instance of human-made objects hitting the lunar surface. This unplanned collision followed a history of such events, including a Chinese Long March 3C rocket hitting the moon on March 4, 2022. Early missions like Luna 2 in 1959 and Ranger 4 in 1962 also intentionally or accidentally impacted the moon. These impacts have been used for science, from studying moonquakes to searching for water ice. As lunar bases expand, safe disposal and reuse of spacecraft components are becoming increasingly important.