A discarded SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket stage is projected to crash into the Moon after over a year drifting through space.
The ~8,800-pound upper stage, originally launched in January 2025 as part of a U.S.-Japanese lunar mission, is expected to impact the lunar surface at around 5,400 mph near the Einstein crater. NASA has said the collision poses no danger to Earth, with telescopes across the Americas expected to confirm the impact. The impact is believed to happen around 11:30 PM PT on August 4.
While the crash itself was not visible to the naked eye, astronomers with powerful telescopes may have spotted a brief flash as the rocket struck the Moon. Scientists estimate the impact could blast around one million kilograms of lunar debris into space, creating a new crater that will be studied by NASA’s Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter, South Korea’s Danuri spacecraft, and observatories on Earth.
Researchers say the accidental collision presents a rare scientific opportunity to study how impacts shape the Moon’s surface. By comparing before-and-after images of the crash site over the coming days, scientists hope to learn more about lunar geology and the behavior of debris plumes. Astronomers also say the event serves as a reminder of the growing problem of space debris, with more discarded rocket stages and satellites accumulating in orbit each year.
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