A SpaceX rocket will crash into the moon this week. Why is it on a collision course? - Space
A discarded SpaceX Falcon 9 upper stage is on a collision course with the moon, expected to impact on August 5. The rocket body has been drifting in space since a 2025 mission and was pushed toward the moon by gravitational and solar forces.
Why it matters
This event highlights the growing issue of space debris and the environmental impact of human activity in lunar orbit.
Solar System The moon A SpaceX rocket will crash into the moon this week. Why is it on a collision course? News By Mike Wall Published 3 August 2026 "Essentially, a mixture of solar activity and gravity forces have put it on a path towards the moon."
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Click for next article Copy link Facebook X Whatsapp Reddit Pinterest Flipboard Email Share this article 4 Join the conversation Follow us Add us as a preferred source on Google Newsletter Subscribe to our newsletter This rocket wasn't supposed to die so dramatically.
On Wednesday (Aug. 5) at about 2:35 a.m. EDT (0635 GMT), the upper stage of a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket will slam into the moon , blasting out a crater about 89 feet (27 meters) wide.
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