SpaceX Rocket Stage to Crash Into Moon, Creating Crater

The upper stage of a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket is on a collision course with the Moon, with an impact expected on Wednesday. Scientists and amateur astronomers are anticipating the event, hoping to observe the plume of dust and debris that will be ejected upon impact.

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It will perhaps be possible for people with a telescope to observe it

Benjamin Fernando of Los Alamos National Laboratory, a lead author of a study on the collision, stated that it might be possible to observe the event with a telescope. "We don't yet know how bright it will be, which is one of the reasons we want to study this event," he explained, encouraging anyone with the means to try and record it.

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We don't yet know how bright it will be, which is one of the reasons we want to study this event

Weighing approximately four tons, the rocket stage is expected to hit the Moon's northern hemisphere at about 8,690 km/h. NASA spokesperson Jimi Russell assured that there is "no danger to Earth," adding that the agency will continue to track the booster for training purposes and observe the impact site for scientific data.

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There is no danger to Earth

The Falcon 9 rocket launched in January 2025 carrying two lunar landers. While the booster returned to Earth, the upper stage remained in space. A combination of solar activity and gravitational forces eventually set it on a path toward the Moon, despite SpaceX's precautions. The collision is expected to provide valuable data for assessing the risks associated with artificial space debris, a critical concern as NASA plans for a sustained human presence on the Moon.

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The Nasa will continue to track the booster for training purposes and will then observe the impact site for scientific purposes.