Out of control rocket crashing into the moon is China’s, not SpaceX’s

Astronomers initially misidentified an object crashing toward the moon as a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket. However, after further analysis, it was corrected to be part of China's Long March 3C rocket from the Changa 5T1 mission. The misidentification was due to trajectory assumptions and brightness matching. The reanalysis showed the Chinese rocket's trajectory was more consistent with the observed path, leading to the conclusion that it is the likely candidate for the moon collision.

What was the object initially thought to be before the correction?

• A SpaceX Falcon 9 upper stage

• A satellite from the Changa 5 mission

• A piece of space debris

• A part of the Long March 3C rocket

Who provided the information that led to the correction of the object's identification?

• A Chinese space agency official

• Elon Musk

• John Giorgini

• Bill Gray

What was the original assumption about the SpaceX rocket's trajectory?

• It was on a collision course with the moon

• It was heading towards Mars

• It did not go especially close to the moon

• It was orbiting the Earth

What mission was the Long March 3C rocket associated with?

• Changa 4 mission

• Changa 3 mission

• Changa 5T1 mission

• Changa 6 mission

What was the purpose of the Changa 5T1 mission?

• To send astronauts to the moon

• To launch a satellite into Earth's orbit

• To test a capsule for a lunar sample return

• To explore Mars