Rocket Set to Hit Moon Was Built by China, Not SpaceX, Say Astronomers

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 China, experts now say Laurent EMMANUEL AFP/File
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 China, experts now say Laurent EMMANUEL AFP/File
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Rocket Set to Hit Moon Was Built by China, Not SpaceX, Say Astronomers

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 China, experts now say Laurent EMMANUEL AFP/File
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 China, experts now say Laurent EMMANUEL AFP/File

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 program, AFP reported.

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

"This (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.

"The object had about the brightness we would expect, and had showed up at the expected time and moving in a reasonable orbit," he wrote in post.

But "in hindsight, I should have noticed some odd things" about its orbit, he added.

NASA said in late January that it would attempt to observe the crater that will be formed by the explosion of this object, thanks to its probe that orbits around the Moon, the Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter (LRO).

The agency called the event an "exciting research opportunity."



Saudi Environment Ministry Celebrates International Mangrove Day at Ras Tanura Park

Their involvement was part of a ministry initiative aimed at promoting the responsible economic use of mangrove resources and showcasing locally produced mangrove honey - SPA
Their involvement was part of a ministry initiative aimed at promoting the responsible economic use of mangrove resources and showcasing locally produced mangrove honey - SPA
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Saudi Environment Ministry Celebrates International Mangrove Day at Ras Tanura Park

Their involvement was part of a ministry initiative aimed at promoting the responsible economic use of mangrove resources and showcasing locally produced mangrove honey - SPA
Their involvement was part of a ministry initiative aimed at promoting the responsible economic use of mangrove resources and showcasing locally produced mangrove honey - SPA

The Qatif Governorate office of the Ministry of Environment, Water and Agriculture marked the International Day for the Conservation of the Mangrove Ecosystem, observed annually on July 26, with a field visit to the Ras Tanura Mangrove Eco-Park by ministry employees and environmental stakeholders.

The event also included participation from the National Center for Vegetation Cover Development and Combating Desertification (NCVC), along with local beekeepers, SPA reported.

 

Their involvement was part of a ministry initiative aimed at promoting the responsible economic use of mangrove resources and showcasing locally produced mangrove honey.

Ras Tanura Mangrove Eco-Park holds significant environmental value as the Kingdom’s first nature reserve specifically dedicated to mangrove forests. It is classified as an organic nature reserve due to its rich biodiversity and balanced coastal ecosystem, making it a vital component of the national environmental protection system.