A SpaceX Booster Is on a Collision Course With the Moon

A spent upper stage from a SpaceX Falcon

A spent upper stage from a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket, used last year to launch a pair of private lunar landers, is set to strike the Moon’s surface in the early hours of Wednesday. The impact, which will occur at roughly 7:25 a.m. Eastern Time, will mark a rare instance of human-made debris reaching Earth’s celestial neighbor.

The rocket segment, which had been drifting in an unpredictable orbit since its mission in February 2022, was initially thought to be part of a different launch. Astronomers tracking the object later confirmed it as the Falcon 9 second stage that propelled the landers built by ispace and Astrobotic on their way to the Moon. The landers themselves carried out their intended tasks, but the discarded booster remained in space, subject to the gravitational tugs of the Earth, Moon, and Sun.

Because the Moon lacks a substantial atmosphere, the booster will not burn up upon entry. Instead, it will slam into the lunar surface at a velocity of roughly 5,700 miles per hour, carving out a new crater estimated to be between 10 and 20 meters wide. Since the impact site lies on the far side of the Moon, it will not be visible from Earth, and no telescope will capture the moment of collision.

While the event is scientifically unremarkable in terms

While the event is scientifically unremarkable in terms of lunar geology, it highlights the growing issue of space debris in cislunar space. As more missions target the Moon, the likelihood of similar unintentional impacts increases, prompting calls for better tracking and disposal practices among commercial and national space agencies.

For now, astronomers see the crash as a chance to study how the lunar surface responds to impacts from human-made objects. The resulting crater could offer insights into the Moon’s subsurface composition, even if the cause was accidental. The event serves as a reminder that the space around our planet is becoming busier, and with it, the need for careful stewardship of the cosmos.