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Explained in plain English

Why hit the moon?

The SpaceX rocket was actually a spent upper stage, left over from a mission to launch a satellite. It wasn't deliberately aimed at the moon, but rather followed an uncontrolled trajectory after completing its primary task. This accidental impact, however, offers a rare chance to study how objects interact with the lunar surface.

Stories that explain this

Telescope spots sodium and lithium plume after SpaceX rocket hits moon

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