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2022-07-01 Science & Technology

'Mystery rocket' that crashed into the Moon baffles NASA scientists

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Posted by Mullah Richard 2022-07-01 00:00|| || Front Page|| [11129 views ] Top

#1 Keep in mind that the Middle Kingdom doesn't like to acknowledge their mistakes.

You could argue adding the Mad Mullahs into this equation, but I really don't believe their equipment or technology would allow them a trans-lunar voyage (although their rockets often go off course a bit).

Posted by Mullah Richard 2022-07-01 08:39|| 2022-07-01 08:39|| Front Page Top

#2 So someone launched an Apollo module sized rocket (Which is going to be ICBM sized essentially) and the US space force and air force haven't said who launched it? Did they even notice it?

Posted by Silentbrick 2022-07-01 09:13|| 2022-07-01 09:13|| Front Page Top

#3 Apollo 11 - 102 meters
Minuteman III - 18.21 meters
Satan / Sarmat - 35.5 meters

A ballistic missile is by definition a sub-orbital rocket. Several ICBM boosters have been re-purposed to provide orbital capability, the Atlas, Titan and Peacekeeper most successfully.

Much of the burn time for an intra lunar flight occurs in total vacuum. While solid rocket fuel has oxidizer incorporated in the design, it's unlikely you'd choose solid fuel for such a mission profile.

Posted by M. Murcek 2022-07-01 09:37|| 2022-07-01 09:37|| Front Page Top

#4 It's a calling card from the future or one of the more than 100 UFOs, which buzzed the US Navy ships recently reported in the news.

Or not - /sarc off

Posted by Menhadden Forkbeard9913 2022-07-01 09:37|| 2022-07-01 09:37|| Front Page Top

#5 Anything big enough to make orbit would probably have been seen by the old Vela birds. SBIRS certainly can see them and the upcoming WFOF launch to support the OPIR mission will be even better than that.

The more babblers that come running to the press from the Pentagone, the more I like to think a few offices are still running tight ships.

Posted by M. Murcek 2022-07-01 09:41|| 2022-07-01 09:41|| Front Page Top

#6 WFOV = Wide field of view
OPIR = Overhead Persistent Infrared program

Posted by M. Murcek 2022-07-01 09:43|| 2022-07-01 09:43|| Front Page Top

#7 ^ How come I never had a Colonel like Wilma Deering (Erin Gray)?

Posted by Procopius2k 2022-07-01 09:43|| 2022-07-01 09:43|| Front Page Top

#8 China moon mission mistake??

Posted by NN2N1 2022-07-01 09:44|| 2022-07-01 09:44|| Front Page Top

#9 I'll save everyone the trouble of looking at the Flesh Gordon movie poster.

Posted by M. Murcek 2022-07-01 09:46|| 2022-07-01 09:46|| Front Page Top

#10 "The cause has already been told in Transformers Dark of the Moon movie 2012. The rocket was from Cybertron, piloted by Sentinel Prime".

Posted by Dale 2022-07-01 10:55|| 2022-07-01 10:55|| Front Page Top

#11 Sorry. That was me. Failed Kerbal Mun launch.

Posted by DarthVader 2022-07-01 11:39|| 2022-07-01 11:39|| Front Page Top

#12 Kerbal 2, 2023.

Posted by swksvolFF 2022-07-01 16:13|| 2022-07-01 16:13|| Front Page Top

#13 Everywhere else I've seen this reported has stated it was a Chinese rocket.

Posted by Rob Crawford 2022-07-01 16:19|| 2022-07-01 16:19|| Front Page Top

#14

Posted by Frank G 2022-07-01 19:59|| 2022-07-01 19:59|| Front Page Top

#15 I recall something recent about a few Geeks that got together in a project and shot the moon. All their own doing but somehow avoided prosecution. I don't know if they know it was a success or not, but if so, kudos.

Posted by newc 2022-07-01 22:26|| 2022-07-01 22:26|| Front Page Top

23:28 DarthVader
23:13 KBK
22:27 newc
22:26 newc
21:42 Black Charlie Slairt1430
21:04 CrazyFool
20:58 CrazyFool
20:56 Frank G
20:54 DooDahMan
20:43 Frank G
20:35 magpie
20:31 AlmostAnonymous5839
20:21 Black Charlie Slairt1430
20:11 Black Charlie Slairt1430
20:11 Rex Mundi
19:59 Frank G
19:55 Frank G
19:11 NN2N1
19:09 Raj
18:54 Seeking Cure For Ignorance
18:47 Ebbuger Whuque4103
18:33 M. Murcek
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18:23 DooDahMan