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A piece of a SpaceX rocket is about to hit the moon

A piece of a SpaceX rocket is about to hit the moon

Summary

A used part of a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket is expected to crash into the moon on August 5, 2026, at high speed. Scientists plan to study the impact to learn more about the moon’s surface and test how impacts affect lunar equipment and astronauts.

Key Facts

  • The object is the upper stage of a Falcon 9 rocket that launched two lunar landers in January 2025.
  • It will hit the moon near the Einstein crater at about 5,400 miles per hour.
  • Researchers track this debris and have predicted the impact precisely.
  • The collision will create a bright flash, a plume of dust and debris, and a new crater.
  • Scientists can measure the impact to better understand the moon’s composition.
  • This event helps test methods used to study natural impacts on the moon.
  • The study also helps assess risks for future lunar astronauts and equipment.
  • NASA plans to send astronauts back to the moon by 2028 and build a permanent base there.
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