Discarded SpaceX Falcon 9 upper stage to impact Moon on August 5, 2026

Published Aug 4, 05:07 PM UTC

On August 5, 2026, a discarded SpaceX Falcon 9 upper stage will collide with the Moon at 5,400 mph, releasing energy equivalent to three tons of TNT. The 8,800-pound, 45-foot-long rocket stage was left over from the January 2025 launch of Firefly Aerospace's Blue Ghost and ispace's Resilience lunar missions. With no propellant for disposal, it became an uncontrolled object in cislunar space. The impact, expected near the Moon's western limb, will create a 20-30 meter crater and offer a rare scientific opportunity to study lunar geology and impact physics. Multiple spacecraft, including South Korea's Danuri orbiter and NASA's Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter, are expected to observe the event. The incident highlights the growing problem of cislunar debris as lunar missions increase.