SpaceX Hit the Moon, and the Real Problem Is Just Beginning

Space Nuts: Moon impact, Roman Observatory launch, and Neptune’s odd moons

Andrew Dunkley is joined by Professor Jonti Horner, Professor of Astrophysics at the University of Southern Queensland, for a wide-ranging astronomy update. They cover SpaceX’s out-of-control rocket body hitting the Moon, the imminent launch of the Nancy Grace Roman Observatory, and a new result that may explain the strange origin of some of Neptune’s moons.

We discuss why lunar impacts matter far beyond the Moon itself, how Roman will study exoplanets and dark energy, and why clay minerals on Neptune’s small moons are such a big clue about a violent early solar system.

Key topics

SpaceX’s rocket body impacted the Moon after being left in a long, uncontrolled orbit

Why lunar impacts are a real concern for future habitats, infrastructure, and Apollo heritage sites

The sheer scale of human-made objects that have already hit or landed on the Moon

Elon Musk’s vision for lunar factories, rail-gun launches, and large-scale off-Earth manufacturing

Why the same company could end up both creating the risk and needing to solve it

The Nancy Grace Roman Observatory launching around 9 months ahead of schedule

Roman’s 2.4 metre mirror, 300 megapixel wide-field camera, and hydrazine-fueled journey to L2

How Roman will study dark energy, gravitational lensing, exoplanets, and free-floating planets