Jonathan McDowell
Coverage of Jonathan McDowell in the Nexus archive.
- Scientists are certain a wayward SpaceX rocket slammed into the moon as predicted
A SpaceX rocket's upper stage is confirmed to have collided with the moon near Einstein Crater as predicted. Scientists and space tracking experts confirmed the impact, which was not deliberate, and noted it follows a 2022 Chinese rocket's unintentional lunar collision. SpaceX is working with NASA to prevent future incidents.
- Scientists are certain a wayward SpaceX rocket slammed into the moon as predicted
A SpaceX rocket stage that drifted off course after launching lunar landers in January 2025 is confirmed to have collided with the moon near Einstein Crater. Scientists attribute the collision to solar activity and gravity, emphasizing it was inevitable. This follows a 2022 incident where a Chinese rocket struck the moon, highlighting growing concerns about space debris on the moon.