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SpaceX Rocket Junk on Course to Hit the Moon, Astronomers Predict

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SpaceX Rocket Junk on Course to Hit the Moon, Astronomers Predict

Part of a SpaceX rocket that was launched seven years ago and was abandoned in space after its mission will crash into the moon in March, experts say.

Deployed in 2015, the rocket put a NASA satellite called the Deep Space Climate Observatory (DSCOVR) into orbit.

Since then, the rocket’s second stage, or booster, has been floating in what mathematicians call a chaotic orbit, astronomer Bill Gray told AFP on Wednesday. Gray calculated the new collision course of the space junk with the moon.

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Gray said the booster came very close to the moon during a rendezvous in January, changing its orbit.

He’s behind Project Pluto, software that calculates the trajectories of asteroids and other space objects and is used in NASA-funded space observation programs. A week after the rocket stage approached the moon, Gray looked again and concluded that it would crash into the dark side of the moon at speeds in excess of 5,500 mph (9,000 km/h) on March 4.

Gray called on the community of amateur astronomers to join him in observing the booster, and his conclusions were confirmed.

The exact time and location of the impact may be slightly different from his predictions, but it is widely believed that there will be a collision on the moon that day.

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“I’ve been tracking this type of junk for about 15 years,” Gray told AFP. “This is the first unintentional lunar impact we’ve ever encountered.”

‘It’s time to start regulating’

Astronomer Jonathan McDowell told AFP that a similar impact could have happened unnoticed.

“In the ’60s, ’70s and ’80s, there were at least 50 objects left in deep Earth orbit, just abandoned there. We didn’t track them,” he said.

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“Now we’re looking for a few of them…but many of them we didn’t find, so they don’t exist anymore,” he added. “Probably at least a few of them hit the moon by accident, and we just didn’t notice.”

The impact of the 4-ton SpaceX rocket block on the moon will not be visible in real time from Earth.

But it will leave a crater that scientists will be able to observe using spacecraft and satellites (like NASA’s Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter or India’s Chandrayaan-2) to learn more about the moon’s geology information.

Spacecraft have deliberately crashed into the moon before for scientific purposes, such as testing seismometers during the Apollo missions.

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In 2009, NASA launched a rocket stage that hurled it toward the moon near the moon’s south pole in search of water.

But most rockets don’t get that far from Earth. SpaceX brings its rocket boosters back into Earth’s atmosphere, so they disintegrate over the ocean. The first stage is recycled and reused.

Gray said there could be more accidental falls to the moon in the future because the U.S. and Chinese space programs, in particular, have left more junk in orbit.

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Bollywood

Kareena Kapoor chuckles at Jeh’s antics while sharing pictures of Taimur during a skiing trip in Switzerland.

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Kareena Kapoor chuckles at Jeh’s antics while sharing pictures of Taimur during a skiing trip in Switzerland.

Kareena Kapoor is enjoying her vacation in Switzerland with her husband, Saif Ali Khan, sons Taimur and Jeh, sharing photos from their skiing session on Instagram. Taimur, dressed in a red and green outfit, stands outdoors wearing ski gear, captioned by Kareena with a red heart and laughing emojis and a star emoji.

Kareena and Saif Ali Khan surprised their sons with special gifts during Christmas, sharing a glimpse of her international celebrations on Instagram. Kareena and Saif, who worked together in LOC Kargil and Omkara, fell in love on the 2008 film Tashan. They have two sons, Tamir and Jeh, and two children.

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Kareena appeared in Rohit Shetty’s action film, Singham Again, alongside Ajay Devgn, Akshay Kumar, Ranveer Singh, Tiger Shroff, Deepika Padukone, Arjun Kapoor, and Jackie Shroff.

Kareena Kapoor, the Bollywood actress known for her charismatic presence both on and off the screen, recently shared a heartwarming glimpse into her family vacation with her sons Taimur and Jeh during their skiing trip to Switzerland. Kareena, who frequently delights her fans with pictures of her family, posted some adorable snapshots that captured her son Taimur’s fun-filled moments on the snowy slopes.

The pictures, which were shared on her social media, show Taimur happily skiing and enjoying his time in the picturesque Swiss Alps. Fans were quick to notice his growing sense of independence and adventure as he took on the slopes with enthusiasm. As the firstborn of Kareena and Saif Ali Khan, Taimur has often been in the public eye since his birth, and his fans love to keep up with his activities and milestones.

However, it wasn’t just Taimur who stole the spotlight in Kareena’s recent post. The actress also shared a few candid moments featuring her younger son, Jeh. In one of the photos, Jeh is seen playfully enjoying his time in the snow, and Kareena can be heard chuckling in the background at his antics.

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The playful interactions between mother and son were endearing, and Kareena’s affectionate laughter resonated with her followers, who were quick to comment on how sweet it was to see such a joyful family moment.

Kareena’s captions further added to the charm of the post, as she wrote about how skiing was not just an adventure for Taimur but also a bonding experience for the entire family. While Taimur was embracing the thrill of skiing,

Jeh was content with his little snow games, and Kareena couldn’t help but laugh at the amusing and often unpredictable nature of family vacations with young children. Her playful comments Taimur and Jeh away from the hustle andabout Jeh’s quirky behavior added a light-hearted touch to the post, making her followers feel connected to her and her family.

The scenic backdrop of Switzerland added an enchanting layer to the beautiful pictures. With snow-capped mountains and picturesque landscapes, the family seemed to be having the perfect winter getaway. Kareena, known for her love for travel, has often shared snippets of her vacations with her followers, and this trip to Switzerland was no different. Fans were overjoyed to see the Kapoor family creating new memories together.

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Beyond just a fun-filled family vacation, the skiing trip also highlighted Kareena’s bond with her children. As a busy actress who juggles her career and family life, Kareena has always emphasized the importance of spending quality time with her loved ones. This trip was no exception, as she used the opportunity to bond with Taimur and Jeh away from the hustle and bustle of their daily lives.

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