Scientists are certain a wayward SpaceX rocket slammed into the moon as predicted

Scientists are certain a SpaceX rocket's upper stage, which launched two lunar landers in January 2025, has crashed into the moon as predicted. The 5,400-mph collision, though not yet officially confirmed, is considered inevitable by space tracking experts after the rocket segment drifted off course for a year due to solar activity and gravity. This incident marks another instance of "lunar litter," a growing concern as space exploration intensifies. SpaceX is working with NASA to prevent future accidental crashes. Visual confirmation of the impact crater is expected next week from NASA's Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter.

A piece of a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket, which had been in space since last year, is believed to have intentionally crashed into the moon on Wednesday. The four-metric-ton upper segment was launched in January carrying lunar landers and, unlike typical missions, its trajectory did not result in its return to Earth. Instead, a combination of solar activity and gravity forces sent it on a path towards the moon, where it was expected to impact Einstein Crater at high speed. This unintentional crash poses no danger to Earth, though it is expected to create a new lunar crater. NASA and SpaceX are collaborating to prevent future lunar impacts, especially with NASA's Artemis program planning future lunar missions.

A piece of a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket, weighing four tonnes and roughly the size of a school bus, is set to impact the moon at high speed early Wednesday morning. This object, the second stage of a rocket that launched a Firefly Aerospace lunar lander in January 2025, has been in space since last year. The unintentional collision is predicted to occur around 2:35 AM ET, with the rocket body striking the lunar surface at approximately 8,690 km/h. The impact is expected to occur in Einstein Crater on the moon’s western limb, kicking up a plume of lunar dust. Unlike typical rocket stages that burn up or fall into the ocean, this piece will create a crater on the moon.

A SpaceX rocket's upper stage, weighing at least 4,000kg, is predicted to collide with the Moon on Wednesday around 02:35 EDT. Astronomer Bill Gray identified the object's trajectory, which will impact near the Einstein Crater on the Moon's sunlit side, creating a crater over 17 meters in diameter. This event is expected to generate a dust plume potentially reaching 50km into the air, with an estimated million kilograms of debris ejected into space. Astronomers anticipate the impact will be visually impressive due to the Moon's lack of atmosphere and weaker gravity, offering a spectacle for observation.

A SpaceX rocket's upper stage, launched over a year ago, is set to unintentionally collide with the moon on Wednesday. The impact, predicted to occur at approximately 5,400 mph near Einstein Crater, will create a crater and eject dust and rubble. Scientists and sky gazers are eager to observe the event, which could provide insights into the hazards of space debris. While this particular crash is not a major concern, it highlights the growing issue of orbital crowding. This marks the second known accidental rocket crash on the moon, following a Chinese rocket segment in 2022. NASA and South Korea's lunar orbiters will document the impact site.

A discarded SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket's upper stage is on a collision course with the moon, set to impact on Wednesday. The rocket, which launched a pair of lunar landers over a year ago, will strike the moon's surface at approximately 5,400 mph, creating a crater and a plume of dust. While this accidental impact is not considered a significant concern by scientists, it highlights the growing issue of space debris. This will be the second known instance of a defunct rocket unintentionally crashing into the moon, following a Chinese rocket segment in 2022. Scientists plan to observe the event to learn more about the hazards posed by debris impacts for future lunar missions, with NASA and South Korea's lunar orbiters expected to capture before-and-after images of the impact site.