Portion of SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket on a collision course with the moon
A portion of a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket is predicted to crash into the moon's near side on Aug. 5, according to astronomer Bill Gray. The upper stage of the rocket was used in January 2025 to launch a commercial U.S. lunar lander.
A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket's upper stage is on a collision course with the moon. The stage has been orbiting Earth for over a year and is expected to crash into the moon's near side on Aug. 5 at 2:44 a.m. Astronomer Bill Gray used orbital tracking software to predict the impact, which will occur at a speed of 2.43 km/s or 5,400 mph. The Falcon 9 rocket was used to launch a commercial U.S. lunar lander in January 2025. The moon has no atmosphere, so the upper stage will not burn up before impact. The collision is a result of the rocket's trajectory after completing its initial mission.
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