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Explained in plain English

Why do rockets crash?

Rockets are designed to deliver payloads into space, and once their fuel is spent, their upper stages become defunct. Without active propulsion or guidance, they can become space debris. This particular SpaceX stage was on a trajectory that, over time, led to an unplanned collision with the Moon, rather than a controlled descent or disposal.

Stories that explain this

NASA images show new moon crater from SpaceX rocket crash

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