Mysterious Crater on the Moon Linked to Chinese Rocket Booster: Tracking the Path of WE0913A

Accident – Death – Obituary News : The far side of the moon, which is never directly visible from Earth, recently became the focus of intrigue after an unusual discovery. In March 2022, a defunct part of a space rocket crashed near the Hertzsprung Crater, leaving behind not one, but two craters. This raised questions about the nature of the object and its origin. A team of researchers from the University of Arizona has now provided definitive proof that the object was a booster from a Chinese space rocket. In a paper published in the Planetary Science Journal, they also revealed that the rocket stage likely carried an undisclosed additional payload.

The moon has seen its fair share of space debris over the years, with remnants of spacecraft often making their final resting place on its surface. Examples include rocket boosters from NASA’s Apollo missions. However, the discovery near the Hertzsprung Crater was unique due to the presence of two craters. This led scientists to investigate further and uncover the true identity of the object.

The mystery began seven years ago when the Catalina Sky Survey detected an object moving rapidly between Earth and the moon. Initially designated as WE0913A, its true nature remained unknown. However, spectral analysis and observations with the student-built Raptor Telescope indicated that it was likely a booster from the Chinese Chang’e 5-T1 rocket. The Chinese space agency had claimed that the rocket booster burned up in Earth’s atmosphere, but the U.S. Space Command confirmed that it never re-entered the atmosphere.

The Chang’e 5-T1 was an experimental spacecraft designed to bring a sample of lunar soil back to Earth. The third stage of the rocket, which was identified as object WE0913A, provided the propulsion for the mission before being jettisoned. Despite being too small to be resolved by telescopes, researchers were able to analyze its rotating motion and determine that it was stable, indicating the presence of a counterweight.

The impact of the rocket booster on the moon’s surface also provided valuable clues. The presence of two craters, roughly 100 feet apart, suggested the existence of two equal masses. This observation, combined with the stable rotation, led researchers to conclude that the booster carried an additional payload that remains unidentified.

The study highlights the importance of tracking and understanding defunct space hardware. As space exploration continues to expand, it becomes crucial to monitor objects and predict their behavior once they reach their destinations. The University of Arizona’s Space4 Center, which played a role in this research, is dedicated to space situational awareness and contributing to the understanding of space debris.

While the identity of the extra payload remains a mystery, the researchers believe it could have been a support structure, additional instrumentation, or something else entirely. Despite the lack of answers, this discovery sheds light on the need for continued research and monitoring of space debris to ensure the safety and success of future space missions.

In conclusion, the investigation into the mysterious crater on the moon’s far side has uncovered the true identity of the object—a booster from a Chinese space rocket. The presence of two craters and the stable rotation of the rocket booster indicate the existence of an unidentified additional payload. This discovery emphasizes the importance of tracking and understanding space debris as space exploration advances..