NASA images show crater on moon left by SpaceX rocket
NASA has released new images captured by the Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter showing a 60-foot-wide crater on the moon caused by a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket impact. The collision occurred in August 2026, and the images provide detailed data on the lunar surface impact.
Why it matters
This event highlights the growing challenges of space debris and the environmental impact of private space exploration on celestial bodies.
This photo provided by NASA on Tuesday, August 18, 2026, taken by the Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter, shows a fresh crater on the moon created by a collision with a SpaceX rocket. NASA VIA AP NASA on Tuesday, August 18, released new images of the crater caused by a SpaceX rocket slamming into the Moon earlier this month. The photographs were captured by the Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter (LRO) between August 11 and 12, and show the impact formed by a SpaceX Falcon 9 upper stage striking the Moon's surface on August 5.
Scientists from the US space agency determined the crater was 60-feet-wide (18 meters), and less than 10 feet deep, based on the length of its shadow. The Falcon 9 launched in January 2025 carrying Firefly Aerospace's Blue Ghost 1 lunar lander, a private mission that made a soft landing on the Moon.
Get smarter about the news
Sign up free for a feed built around what you actually care about, Dive Deeper research on any story, and the full text of every article.
Create free accountAlready have an account? Sign in