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ScienceOn August 5, 2026, a discarded SpaceX Falcon 9 upper stage from the January 2025 launch of Firefly's Blue Ghost and ispace's Resilience missions will uncontrollably impact the Moon. Weighing 8,800 pounds and traveling at 5,400 mph, the impact will release energy equivalent to three tons of TNT, creating a crater 20-30 meters wide. The event offers a rare scientific opportunity to study lunar geology and impact physics, as multiple orbiters like South Korea's Danuri and NASA's Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter are expected to observe the aftermath. It also highlights the growing challenge of managing debris in cislunar space as lunar missions increase.
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Discarded SpaceX Rocket Stage on Collision Course with Moon