Moon Scarred: Space Junk Becomes Lunar Menace

In August 2026, a defunct SpaceX rocket stage collided with the moon, leaving a new crater near Einstein Crater. This incident, observed by astronomers, highlights a concerning trend of the space industry treating space, and now the moon, as a place for discarded materials. The author contends that this practice reflects a colonial mindset, prioritizing extraction over stewardship. The abandoned rocket, having completed its mission in 2025, was left in orbit to eventually impact the moon due to natural forces, a predictable outcome due to a lack of deliberate disposal planning. This event is not isolated, as previous rocket bodies have impacted the moon. The article draws parallels to the congestion in low Earth orbit, where decades of debris accumulation from abandoned satellites pose increasing risks. The unchecked expansion of satellite constellations like Starlink exemplifies a belief that space can indefinitely absorb waste. Unlike Earth's atmosphere or oceans, the moon cannot mitigate or remove debris. Consequently, discarded items, such as astronaut waste from the Apollo program, remain permanently. The author attributes this ongoing issue to a sense of entitlement, where entities exploit the lack of oversight and consequence, mirroring historical imperialistic behavior towards unclaimed territories. While some companies are beginning to implement deorbit plans, these isolated efforts do not constitute effective governance. The 1967 Outer Space Treaty designates the moon as belonging to no nation, yet current actions suggest a de facto ownership based on first arrival and capability. A narrow window of opportunity exists to establish tracking, disposal rules, and accountability measures for space stewardship before such impacts become commonplace.