Abandoned Falcon 9 Stage to Hit Moon at 2.43 km/s, Likely Carving New Crater
Updated
Updated · Holistic News · Jun 23
Abandoned Falcon 9 Stage to Hit Moon at 2.43 km/s, Likely Carving New Crater
3 articles · Updated · Holistic News · Jun 23
Summary
August 5, 2026 is the projected impact date for an abandoned Falcon 9 upper stage, which is expected to strike the Moon near Einstein crater and leave a fresh impact mark.
A 26-day elongated orbit now crosses the Moon’s path, and weak but persistent sunlight pressure on the tumbling stage has made the exact impact point hard to pin down.
The object—described as roughly the size of a five-story building—is expected to hit at about 2.43 km/s, with NASA’s Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter likely able to photograph the new crater afterward.
No threat is expected from this collision because the site is remote and far from active missions, but the episode highlights how abandoned hardware could endanger future lunar probes, stations or crews.
A 2022 rocket-stage impact tied to China’s Chang’e 5-T1 mission left a double crater, and the latest case renews calls to send spent stages into solar orbit instead of leaving them in Earth-Moon space.
As a rocket nears its lunar impact, are new 'zero-debris' rules too late to stop the Moon from becoming a junkyard?
We know a rocket will hit the Moon this August. Why can we predict this collision but not prevent it?
Falcon 9 Rocket Stage Set for August 2026 Lunar Impact: What It Means for Science and Space Junk Management
Overview
In August 2026, an abandoned SpaceX Falcon 9 second stage will crash into the Moon at a speed seven times faster than sound. This impact, caused by the rocket’s post-mission trajectory, will create a new lunar crater. Although the event will not be visible from Earth and poses no danger to people, it highlights the growing problem of space debris. NASA’s Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter is ready to document the aftermath, offering scientists a chance to study the effects of such impacts and raising awareness about the need for better management of leftover space hardware.