3 ms·

I think it is implied in the article that only the motor is massive enough to excavate a crater. The similarity in size of the craters suggests they were create

I think it is implied in the article that only the motor is massive enough to excavate a crater. The similarity in size of the craters suggests they were created by objects of similar mass. At least one early rocket design (Atlas) had fuel tanks so insubstantial that they had to be pressurized until they were loaded with fuel on the pad, and a loss of pressure could be expensive... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=imkdz63agHY https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=imkdz63agHY

rob74 4y ago
That could still work: when the empty end hits first, it has the mass of the engine(s) behind it, and obviously after it bounces/rotates, the engine(s) hit the ground directly and use up the rest of the momentum. But this is just guessing on my part - and of course, if the Moon's gravity would rotate the engine downward as another commenter suggests, it wouldn't work out this way...
- mannykannot 4y ago
  With the mass of the motor behind it, I would guess the fuel tank would crumple like an empty beer can smashed against the rocks.