Rocket set to hit moon was built by China, not SpaceX, astronomers say

Name: China’s Chang’e 5 lunar mission returns to Earth with moon samples
Uploaded: 2022-02-14T23:52:40.000Z
Duration: 1 min 28 s
Description: China’s Chang’e 5 lunar mission returns to Earth with moon samples

The object is now said to be 2014-065B, the booster for the Chang’e 5-T1, launched in 2014 as part of Beijing’s lunar exploration programme

Astronomer Bill Gray, who first identified the future impact, admitted his mistake over the weekend

Reading Time:1 minute

Why you can trust SCMP

This graphic simulation image shows the orbiter and returner combination of China’s Chang’e-5 probe after its separation from the ascender. Image: China National Space Administration/Xinhua via AP

Agence France-Presse

Published: 7:52am, 15 Feb 2022Updated: 9:18am, 15 Feb 2022

Astronomy experts say they originally misread the secrets of the night sky last month: it turns out that a rocket expected to crash into the moon in early March was built by China, not SpaceX.

A rocket will indeed strike the lunar surface on March 4, but contrary to what had been announced, it was built not by Elon Musk’s company, but by Beijing, experts now say.

The rocket is now said to be 2014-065B, the booster for the Chang’e 5-T1, launched in 2014 as part of the Chinese space agency’s lunar exploration programme.

The surprise announcement was made by astronomer Bill Gray, who first identified the future impact, and admitted his mistake last weekend.

01:28

China’s Chang’e 5 lunar mission returns to Earth with moon samples

“This (an honest mistake) just emphasizes the problem with lack of proper tracking of these deep space objects,” tweeted astronomer Jonathan McDowell, who advocates for greater regulation of space waste.

Select Voice

Choose your listening speed

Get through articles 2x faster

1.25x

250 WPM

Slow

Average

Fast

00:0000:00

1.25x