NASA Confirms New Moon Crater from SpaceX Rocket Impact
NASA Confirms New Moon Crater from SpaceX Rocket Impact
Updated at: August 20, 2026 at 03:00 AM
On August 5, 2026, a discarded SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket stage struck the lunar surface, marking a significant moment in space exploration.
Traveling at 5,400 mph, the 8,800-pound object hit near the moon's far-side Einstein Crater.
NASA's Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter (LRO) later confirmed a new crater, measuring 60 feet wide, which revealed fresh lunar material excavated from beneath the surface.
The rocket stage had been drifting since its January 2025 launch, originally deployed to deliver private landers to deep space.
While the collision was unintentional, it offered scientists a rare, natural laboratory to study lunar composition through the resulting dust and rock.
The impact also sparked urgent conversations about space debris.
While the disposal of hardware via lunar impact is sometimes an accepted practice, this event highlights the growing complexity of operating beyond Earth’s orbit.
Through international cooperation, including data from South Korea's Danuri orbiter, researchers are now using this unique event to better understand both the moon's secrets and the challenges of a busy space environment.
