SpaceX rocket expected to slam into the moon this week: What we know
An abandoned SpaceX rocket upper stage is on a collision course with the moon, expected to impact the lunar surface this week. While the crash poses no threat to Earth, it will create a dust plume that scientists hope to observe for research purposes.
Why it matters
The event underscores the growing issue of space debris and the unintended consequences of commercial space activity.
A drifting SpaceX rocket is on a collision course with the moon, slated to slam into the lunar surface this week, packing the equivalent energy of three tons of TNT. It poses no imminent threat to the moon or the Earth, but the crash will send up a massive plume of dust that scientists and stargazers are eager to observe. Related video above | NASA awards nearly $600 million in lunar contracts to advance moon base plans The rocket’s upper stage will unintentionally slam into the moon on Wednesday at an estimated speed of 5,400 mph — about seven times the speed of sound. The crash is expected to happen near the moon's Einstein Crater on its sunlit western limb. How did this happen? Launched in January 2025, the rocket sent two commercial lunar landers toward Earth's dusty sidekick.
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