Jonathan McDowell

SpaceX Falcon 9 Rocket Upper Stage Slams Into Moon as Predicted

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A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket lifts off from pad 39A with a payload of a pair of lunar landers at the Kennedy Space Center in

A leftover SpaceX Falcon 9 upper-stage rocket drifted off course for 18 months before slamming into the moon at 5,400 mph on August 5, 2026. The collision near Einstein Crater carved a fresh impact crater, prompting astronomers and space agencies to study the debris plume and improve tracking of lunar traffic. Space tracking experts confirmed … Read more

SpaceX Falcon 9 Rocket Stage Strikes Moon Near Einstein Crater

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SpaceX Falcon 9 Rocket Stage Strikes Moon Near Einstein Crater

A discarded SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket stage struck the moon on Wednesday, August 5, 2026, creating a fresh impact crater near Einstein Crater. Space tracking experts confirmed the collision after the 4-ton upper stage spent nearly seven months drifting off course, posing no danger to Earth. The 45-foot upper stage crashed into the lunar surface … Read more