SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket stage to crash into Moon at seven times the speed of sound

A spent SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket upper stage is projected to crash into the Moon on August 5 at approximately 6:35 a.m. UTC, near the Einstein crater. The rocket, launched on January 15, 2025, carried two private lunar spacecraft before its upper stage entered an unstable orbit. The impact, occurring at about 8,700 kph, is expected to create a new crater 20-30 meters in diameter and about five meters deep, and will generate a dust cloud that could rise 15-20 kilometers. While the initial flash will be faint and difficult to observe from Earth, particularly in daylight, scientists are primarily interested in studying the dust cloud's behavior. This event, only the second known accidental rocket debris collision with the Moon, highlights the increasing challenge of managing space debris between Earth and the Moon, especially with future lunar missions planned.