# Discarded SpaceX Falcon 9 stage crashes into Moon

2026-08-06T22:46:06+00:00 | Technology | Indian Opinion Desk

Corroboration: 1 independent outlet

A four-tonne SpaceX Falcon 9 upper stage struck the Moon at about 5,400 mph after drifting through space for more than a year. The impact occurred near Einstein Crater and was not intentional. A telescope in Chile detected a sodium and lithium plume lasting five to 10 minutes, providing evidence of the collision. NASA expects a crater about 18 metres wide and four metres deep, though other estimates put it wider. The Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter is expected to photograph the site. The stage was launched in January 2025 after carrying lunar landers towards the Moon. Times Now identifies the payload as Firefly’s Blue Ghost and ispace’s Resilience, while The Times of India names ispace’s Hakuto-R. SpaceX attributed the altered trajectory to solar activity and gravitational forces. Scientists say the impact could help study lunar ejecta, while also renewing concerns over uncontrolled space debris.

## Coverage

- timesofindia.indiatimes.com <https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/science/part-of-spacex-rocket-the-size-of-a-school-bus-crashed-into-the-moon-scientists-say-it-caused-a-huge-explosion-and-a-60-foot-crater/articleshow/132990973.cms>
- timesnownews.com <https://www.timesnownews.com/world/us/us-news/spacex-rocket-crashes-on-the-moon-why-an-out-of-control-falcon-9-slammed-into-the-moon-at-5400-mph-article-155313668>

Tags: Falcon 9, Moon, NASA, space debris, SpaceX
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