A Falcon 9 rocket will hit the Moon this summer at seven times the speed of sound
Summary
A part of a Falcon 9 rocket launched in early 2025 will hit the Moon on August 5, traveling about seven times the speed of sound. The impact will create a small crater but will not cause damage, and it is planned to be visible from parts of the Americas.Key Facts
- The Falcon 9 rocket’s upper stage is 13.8 meters tall and 3.7 meters wide.
- It will strike the Moon at 2:44 am ET (06:44 UTC) on August 5, 2026.
- The impact speed will be about 2.43 kilometers per second (5,400 mph).
- The object was launched on January 15, 2025, carrying two lunar landers.
- One lander, Blue Ghost, successfully landed on the Moon; the other failed.
- The upper stage has been tracked over 1,000 times since launch.
- The Moon has no atmosphere, so the rocket stage will hit it intact.
- Future moon missions will increase rocket traffic, suggesting a need for better disposal plans of rocket parts.
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