Space & Astronomy

Aftermath of SpaceX rocket collision with the Moon revealed

By T.K. Randall
August 20, 2026

Image Credit: NASA Goddard / Intuitive Machines With all the defunct satellites, spent rocket stages and other man-made objects found in orbit these days, it as perhaps inevitable that we would start to see more debris hitting the lunar surface.

The most recent example of this occurred on August 5th when the upper stage of a Falcon 9 rocket careened into the Moon, causing a large crater to form.

Now, using the Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter (LRO), NASA has been able to capture images showing this new crater which is estimated to be around 18 meters across and 3 meters deep.

When it struck, the discarded rocket stage had been travelling at 5,400 miles per hour and hit with the equivalent force of three tons of dynamite.Scientists have since been monitoring the Moon for signs of how the impact might have affected it.

The incident emphasises that even the lunar surface can't escape the consequences of our orbital activities and this impact will be by no means the last.

With the next Artemis mission fast approaching, it won't be too long before we'll see humans landing on the Moon directly, ushering in a new era of lunar exploration.

When that happens, the objects left behind by the Apollo missions will only be the tip of the iceberg.

Source: BBC News

Tags: Moon