A massive piece of a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket has reportedly crashed into the Moon, creating a new crater on the lunar surface. The roughly 4,000-kg upper-stage rocket component, described as being about the size of a school bus, struck the Moon at an estimated speed of nearly 8,700 km per hour. The rocket stage had been left in space after a lunar mission launched in January 2025. According to reports, the impact occurred near the Moon’s Einstein crater and sent a huge plume of lunar dust above the surface. The collision was not visible to the naked eye from Earth, though astronomers had expected telescopes to potentially capture the brief dust plume.
Scientists estimate that the high-speed impact may have created a crater several metres deep and roughly 17 metres or more across, although its exact dimensions will need to be confirmed through observations by spacecraft orbiting the Moon. The incident has also renewed attention on the growing problem of space debris. While parts of Falcon 9 rockets are designed to be reusable, upper stages can sometimes remain in space after completing their missions. Experts say this particular impact poses no threat to Earth, but it highlights the challenges of tracking and managing human-made objects as activity in space continues to increase.
