Explained in plain English
Why did this happen?
This rocket part was a 'second stage' from a Falcon 9 launch in 2015. After deploying its payload, it didn't have enough fuel to return to Earth or escape the Earth-Moon system. It was left in a chaotic orbit, slowly being pulled by the Earth, Moon, and Sun, until it eventually crossed paths with the Moon.
Stories that explain this
SpaceX rocket part crashes into Moon on WednesdayThis explainer came from a news story
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