Overview
- Scientists confirmed the upper stage struck the Moon, with observations from the European Southern Observatory showing a dust plume and spectral lines consistent with sodium and lithium.
- The upper stage came from a Falcon 9 that launched on January 15, 2025, and is estimated at about four tonnes; models place the impact near the Einstein crater at roughly 8,690 km/h.
- The upper stage struck the Moon on Wednesday, Aug. 5, 2026, at about 06:35 GMT, producing a short-lived plume that lasted several minutes and will be imaged by orbiters for days to come.
- NASA says there is no danger to Earth and will task the Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter to image the site, while SpaceX attributes the trajectory change to solar activity and gravitational perturbations.
- Researchers say the event highlights gaps in cislunar debris management and offers a rare chance to test observation methods, crater models, and protocols for protecting planned lunar bases.