Home / Science / Rocket Stage Set for Lunar Crash
Rocket Stage Set for Lunar Crash
30 Jul
Summary
- A Falcon 9 rocket's upper stage will crash into the moon.
- The impact is predicted to create a new crater on the moon.
- Astronomers will observe the crash to analyze the dust plume.
A 45-foot upper stage of a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket is projected to crash into the moon on August 5th. This component was part of a mission launched in January 2025 to deliver an uncrewed lunar lander.
After completing its primary task, the rocket stage entered an elliptical orbit around Earth. Due to its trajectory, it will not burn up in the atmosphere but will impact the moon's near side.
The collision is anticipated to create a crater between 66 to 98 feet wide and generate a dust plume. Astronomers plan to study this event to analyze the resulting debris.
This incident is not the first time a spacecraft has intentionally or unintentionally impacted the moon. However, it raises questions about the responsible disposal of space hardware.
