NASA Highlights Space Threats from Asteroids and Lunar Rocket Debris

NASA asteroid specialist Humberto Campins warned that, while no individual faces an imminent danger, humanity must develop planetary‑defence capabilities to divert potential asteroid impacts. He noted that the 2029 close approach of the 375‑metre asteroid Apophis poses no risk of collision, but emphasized the need for a global network of telescopes, simulations and technologies such as the DART kinetic‑impact experiment.

NASA later confirmed that the upper stage of a SpaceX Falcon 9 launched in January 2025 unintentionally struck the Moon. The impact created a 20‑30 metre crater, expelled material up to 800 metres, and is being studied for scientific insight into lunar geology. The agency stressed that the event poses no danger to Earth or current lunar assets and views it as an opportunity to improve models of crater formation. South Korean observers captured before‑and‑after images of the impact.