A Falcon 9 rocket will hit the Moon this summer at seven times the speed of sound (3 minute read)
A Falcon 9 upper stage will strike the Moon in August 2026 at seven times the speed of sound, highlighting growing concerns about space debris as lunar operations expand.
What: The second stage of a Falcon 9 rocket that launched lunar landers in January 2025 will impact the Moon's near side on August 5, 2026, traveling at 2.43 km/s and creating a small crater with no risk to current lunar assets.
Why it matters: With NASA and China planning semi-permanent Moon bases and launch cadences expected to increase tenfold, the incident demonstrates the need for rocket operators to plan fuel-efficient disposal orbits that avoid Earth and the Moon.
Decoder
- Upper stage: The second portion of a multi-stage rocket that provides additional thrust after the first stage separates, typically left in orbit or deliberately disposed of after completing its mission.
- Disposal orbit: A planned trajectory around the Sun that ensures spent rocket stages won't collide with Earth, the Moon, or active spacecraft.
Original article
The upper stage of a Falcon 9 rocket that launched in early 2025 will strike the Moon later this summer at about 2.43 kilometers per second. It will likely hit the near side of the Moon at around 2:44 AM ET on August 5. The impact is expected to be too faint to be observed on Earth. There is no risk from the impact on anything on the Moon.