Lunar Launchpads: How the Moon Might Be Creating Earth’s Orbiting Companions

This study explores how fragments from the Moon, ejected during impacts, could become Earth’s co-orbital companions. Simulations show that about 6.7% of lunar ejecta can enter such orbits, especially when launched from equatorial regions at specific speeds. The findings support a lunar origin for objects like Kamo’oalewa and suggest a steady process replenishing these near-Earth companions over time.