SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket stage believed to have unintentionally crashed into the Moon

Published Aug 8, 06:08 PM UTC

A four-tonne piece of a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket upper stage is believed to have unintentionally crashed into the Moon's northern hemisphere near the Einstein Crater on August 5, 2026, at approximately 0635 GMT. While official confirmation is pending, NASA's Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter and South Korea's Pathfinder Lunar Orbiter are expected to image the impact site. The rocket stage, launched in January 2025 to carry two lunar landers, remained in space after the booster returned to Earth. SpaceX stated that solar activity and gravitational forces altered its trajectory, leading to the lunar collision. Scientists view the event as an opportunity to study impact dynamics, dust plumes, and space debris hazards, especially as NASA plans a sustained human presence on the Moon. No danger to Earth was reported.