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Stray SpaceX rocket piece will crash into Moon
NDTV··4 Aug
A discarded upper stage from a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket, launched in January 2025, is set to strike the Moon near the Einstein crater on August 5. Travelling at roughly 5,400 miles per hour, the impact carries the force of three tonnes of TNT and should gouge a crater about 27 meters wide, throwing debris above the lunar surface.
Prism
What It Means For You
- Amateur astronomers with telescopes may get a rare chance to observe the ejecta plume minutes after impact.
- Space enthusiasts can follow how agencies study artificial impacts to improve safety guidelines for future lunar missions.
- Residents on Earth face no risk from the crash, since the Moon's lack of atmosphere prevents any blast reaching Earth.
What's Happening
- A discarded SpaceX Falcon 9 upper stage is set to crash into the Moon near the Einstein crater on August 5.
- The object has drifted in orbit for over a year since its January 2025 launch before lunar gravity pulled it in.
- Researchers expect the impact to create a 27 meter wide crater and a debris plume rising dozens of miles high.
How Scientists Will Study This Rare Impact
- NASA's Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter will photograph the site before and after impact to document surface changes.
- Researchers led by William Jo used physics simulations to predict the size and brightness of the resulting plume.
- Experts say the event highlights a growing need for guidelines on tracking and disposing of space debris near the Moon.
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