Mystery ‘asteroid’ thought to be old rocket from 1966 moon mission

An Atlas Centaur 7 rocket on the launchpad at Cape Canaveral (Convair/General Dynamics Astronautics Atlas Negative Collection/San Diego Air and Space Museum via AP)

The game may be up for an “asteroid” that is expected to be drawn into Earth’s gravity and become a mini moon next month.

Instead of a cosmic rock, the newly discovered object appears to be an old rocket from a failed moon landing 54 years ago that is finally making its way back home, according to Nasa’s leading asteroid expert.