The mystery behind the moon crash on March 4, 2022, which left a double crater of about 29-metre width on the moon's far side, has now effectively come to an end. A team of astronomers from the University of Arizona identified it as the third and uppermost stage of China's Long March 3C rocket which had launched the Chang'e 5-T1 mission in October 2014.

Additionally, it has been revealed that the rocket was also carrying some "undisclosed, additional payload", according to the paper published in the peer-reviewed Planetary Science.

The first study was led by Tanner Campbell from the University of Arizona's Department of Aerospace and Mechanical Engineering, did trajectory and spectroscopic analysis based on ground-based telescope observations.&nbsp;

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Campbell and his team confirmed in a study published in the Planetary Science Journal that WE0913A was indeed the Long March 3C rocket body from the Chang'e 5-T1 mission.

<h2>Chinese officials contest the findings</h2>

Despite scientific confirmation, Chinese officials have contested the findings, and have claimed that the Long March 3C's upper stage burned up in Earth's atmosphere after the Chang'e 5-T1 launch.&nbsp;

However, the US&nbsp;Space Command has stood by the University of Arizona's claim, stating that the object never re-entered Earth's atmosphere.

<h2>What do we know about that 29-metre-wide moon crater?</h2>

The study also delves into the distinctive crater resulting from the moon crash.&nbsp;

Researchers compared the light curve of the Chinese rocket with thousands of simulated space objects and revealed specific characteristics.&nbsp;

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The object's stable tumbling behaviour suggests a dumbbell-like structure, possibly attributed to the considerable mass at each end, such as the upper stage's two engines.

Campbell noted the unprecedented occurrence of a double crater, emphasizing the need for two roughly equal masses apart from each other. The mystery surrounding the additional mass remains, with speculations about its nature and purpose. Campbell concluded, "We probably won't ever know."

The mystery behind the moon crash on March 4, 2022, which left a double crater of about 29-metre width on the moon's far side, has now effectively come to an end.

The mystery behind the moon crash on March 4, 2022, which left a double crater of about 29-metre width on the moon's far side, has now effectively come to an end. A team of astronomers from the University of Arizona identified it as the third and uppermost stage of China's Long March 3C rocket which had launched the Chang'e 5-T1 mission in October 2014. Additionally, it has been revealed that the rocket was also carrying some "undisclosed, additional payload", according to the paper published in the peer-reviewed Planetary Science. The first study was led by Tanner Campbell from the University of Arizona's Department of Aerospace and Mechanical Engineering, did trajectory and spectroscopic analysis based on ground-based telescope observations. Also read | What is the significance of Chang'e-5 less than 2 billion years old lunar samples? Campbell and his team confirmed in a study published in the Planetary Science Journal that WE0913A was indeed the Long March 3C rocket body from the Chang'e 5-T1 mission. Chinese officials contest the findings Despite scientific confirmation, Chinese officials have contested the findings, and have claimed that the Long March 3C's upper stage burned up in Earth's atmosphere after the Chang'e 5-T1 launch. However, the US Space Command has stood by the University of Arizona's claim, stating that the object never re-entered Earth's atmosphere. What do we know about that 29-metre-wide moon crater? The study also delves into the distinctive crater resulting from the moon crash. Researchers compared the light curve of the Chinese rocket with thousands of simulated space objects and revealed specific characteristics. Also watch | China's Chang'e 6 lunar mission: China to help Pakistan launch ICUBE-Q Cubesat satellite × The object's stable tumbling behaviour suggests a dumbbell-like structure, possibly attributed to the considerable mass at each end, such as the upper stage's two engines. Campbell noted the unprecedented occurrence of a double crater, emphasizing the need for two roughly equal masses apart from each other. The mystery surrounding the additional mass remains, with speculations about its nature and purpose. Campbell concluded, "We probably won't ever know."

Chinese rocket with 'undisclosed payload' banged into Moon to create wide craters, scientists say

An astronomer has revealed that&nbsp;the Chinese Long March 3C rocket is on course to collide with the Moon and not&nbsp;SpaceX's Falcon 9.

Known as Bill Gray, the astronomer wrote the Project Pluto software used to track near-Earth objects.

Uncertainty over the rocket's orbital decay and China's failure to issue stronger reassurances has fuelled anxiety.

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"It would be a little strange if the second stage went right past the Moon, while DSCOVR was in another part of the sky. There's always some separation, but this was suspiciously large," Gray explained.

An object called WE0913A can collide with the far side of the Moon on 4 March 2022, at around 12:25 pm UTC as per his observations.

However, if its leftover fuel leaks out and pushes it around that can cause changes in the orbit.

Remnants of China's biggest rocket, Long March 5B had landed in the Indian Ocean with most of its components destroyed upon re-entry into the atmosphere. It had&nbsp;launched the 22.5-ton core of China's newest space station.

The 18-tonne rocket that fell last May was the heaviest debris to fall uncontrolled since the former Soviet space station Salyut 7 in 1991.

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The Long March was the second deployment of the 5B variant since its maiden flight in May 2020. The pieces from the first Long March 5B fell on Ivory Coast, damaging several buildings.

China’s first space station, Tiangong-1, crashed into the Pacific Ocean in 2016 after Beijing confirmed it had lost control. In 2019, the space agency controlled the demolition of its second station, Tiangong-2, in the atmosphere.

The Global Times, a Chinese tabloid, dismissed as "Western hype" concerns the rocket was "out of control" and could cause damage.

"It is common practice across the world for upper stages of rockets to burn up while reentering the atmosphere," Wang Wenbin, a spokesman at China's foreign ministry, said at a regular media briefing.

"To my knowledge, the upper stage of this rocket has been deactivated, which means most of its parts will burn up upon re-entry, making the likelihood of damage to aviation or ground facilities and activities extremely low," he added.

The rocket, which put into orbit an unmanned Tianhe module containing what were supposed to be living quarters for three crew on a permanent Chinese space station, will be followed by 10 more missions to complete the station by 2022.

(With inputs from agencies)

An astronomer has revealed that the Chinese Long March 3C rocket is on course to collide with the Moon and not SpaceX's Falcon 9. Known as Bill Gray, the astronomer wrote the Project Pluto software used to track near-Earth objects.

An astronomer has revealed that the Chinese Long March 3C rocket is on course to collide with the Moon and not SpaceX's Falcon 9. Known as Bill Gray, the astronomer wrote the Project Pluto software used to track near-Earth objects. Uncertainty over the rocket's orbital decay and China's failure to issue stronger reassurances has fuelled anxiety. Also read | Why has space business has become the final profitable frontier? "It would be a little strange if the second stage went right past the Moon, while DSCOVR was in another part of the sky. There's always some separation, but this was suspiciously large," Gray explained. An object called WE0913A can collide with the far side of the Moon on 4 March 2022, at around 12:25 pm UTC as per his observations. However, if its leftover fuel leaks out and pushes it around that can cause changes in the orbit. Remnants of China's biggest rocket, Long March 5B had landed in the Indian Ocean with most of its components destroyed upon re-entry into the atmosphere. It had launched the 22.5-ton core of China's newest space station. The 18-tonne rocket that fell last May was the heaviest debris to fall uncontrolled since the former Soviet space station Salyut 7 in 1991. Also read | NASA's James Webb Space Telescope takes a space selfie The Long March was the second deployment of the 5B variant since its maiden flight in May 2020. The pieces from the first Long March 5B fell on Ivory Coast, damaging several buildings. China’s first space station, Tiangong-1, crashed into the Pacific Ocean in 2016 after Beijing confirmed it had lost control. In 2019, the space agency controlled the demolition of its second station, Tiangong-2, in the atmosphere. The Global Times, a Chinese tabloid, dismissed as "Western hype" concerns the rocket was "out of control" and could cause damage. "It is common practice across the world for upper stages of rockets to burn up while reentering the atmosphere," Wang Wenbin, a spokesman at China's foreign ministry, said at a regular media briefing. "To my knowledge, the upper stage of this rocket has been deactivated, which means most of its parts will burn up upon re-entry, making the likelihood of damage to aviation or ground facilities and activities extremely low," he added. The rocket, which put into orbit an unmanned Tianhe module containing what were supposed to be living quarters for three crew on a permanent Chinese space station, will be followed by 10 more missions to complete the station by 2022. (With inputs from agencies)

It's a Chinese rocket, not one from SpaceX that will crash on Moon, says astronomer

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Chinese rocket with 'undisclosed payload' banged into Moon to create wide craters, scientists say

It's a Chinese rocket, not one from SpaceX that will crash on Moon, says astronomer