The second stage of a Falcon 9 rocket, belonging to the company SpaceX, impacted the lunar surface in the early hours of August 5, 2026. The collision is considered an unusual event involving man-made objects and resulted in the formation of a new crater approximately 18 meters in diameter, according to information released by the American space agency, NASA.
Collision details and object characteristics
The impact occurred in an area close to the Einstein and Bell craters, with an estimated speed of 8,700 kilometers per hour. Despite the high speed, NASA assured that the event did not pose any threat to planet Earth. The booster, which was about 14 meters long, four meters wide and weighed approximately four tons, had been in orbit since January 2025.
Launch history and previous lunar missions
The Falcon 9 rocket had been launched in January 2025 with the purpose of sending two lunar landing modules into space. Of these, one module, the Blue Ghost-1, developed by the American company Firefly Aerospace, completed its mission successfully. The other module, the Hakuto-R, from the Japanese company iSpace, unfortunately failed during the landing attempt.
How the rocket’s trajectory was changed
NASA explained that the route that took the rocket stage to collide with the Moon was the result of a complex combination. Gravitational forces and solar activity worked together to deflect the object onto this trajectory. SpaceX, in turn, had discarded the equipment according to expected operating procedures shortly after the rocket’s original launch.
The scientific value of the new lunar crater
This impact is of great interest to the scientific community, as the formation of a fresh crater offers a unique opportunity to study the lunar surface. By exposing material below the surface layer, researchers can analyze the composition of the Moon’s soil and subsoil without the interference of weathering. This provides valuable data on the satellite’s geological history and the dynamics of impacts on celestial bodies without an atmosphere, expanding the scope of observations.
- Main data on the impact on the Moon
- To understand the event clearly, check out the key points:
- Object:Second stage of a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket.
- Impact date:August 5, 2026.
- Location:Near Einstein and Bell craters on the lunar surface.
- Speed:Estimated at 8,700 km/h.
- Result:Crater approximately 18 meters in diameter.
- Original release:January 2025, with two lunar modules.
- Explanation of the trajectory:Combination of gravitational forces and solar activity, according to NASA.
