Piece of SpaceX rocket the size of a school bus crashes into the Moon
Summary
A large piece of a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket, about the size of a school bus, crashed into the Moon in early 2026. The crash created a new crater and offers scientists a chance to study high-speed impacts on the lunar surface.Key Facts
- The debris weighed about four tonnes and was the rocket’s second stage from a launch in early 2025.
- It hit near the Einstein Crater on the Moon at around 8,700 km/h (5,400 mph).
- The impact had the energy equivalent to about three tonnes of TNT.
- Normally, rocket stages fall back to Earth or into oceans, but this piece’s path changed due to the gravity of the Sun, Earth, and Moon.
- SpaceX said the collision was accidental and could not have been prevented given the rocket’s remaining fuel.
- NASA and South Korea’s lunar orbiters are studying the impact site with cameras and sensors.
- This is only the second known case of space debris crashing into the Moon; the first was in 2022 from a Chinese rocket.
- Experts warn that space around Earth is becoming crowded with leftover rocket parts and other debris.
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