Wayward Falcon 9 Likely 1st USA Object to Impact Moon Since LADEE as Starship Prepping to Fly NET March /// Corrected 14 Feb
Upper stage that inserted NOAA DSCOVR to Sun-Earth L1 in 2015 likely striking near Sea of Tranquility (5.18°N, 233.55°E) on Moon far side 4 March at 12:25:58 UTC, marking 1st USA impactor since 2014; Space archeologists and Moon heritage conservationists eager to study latest artificial object on Moon while cautious of debris considerations; Elon Musk says Starship prototype (Booster 4 / Ship 20) may be ready to orbit NET March pending FAA clearance from Starbase TX; CAPSTONE slated for 19 March, Artemis 1 / SLS NET April followed by Intuitive Machines, Astrobotic, Luna-25, Chandrayaan-3, KPLO, ispace; SLIM and IM-2 also possible in 2022