4-tonne SpaceX rocket stage believed to have crashed into the moon

New York: A four-tonne piece of a SpaceX rocket is believed to have unintentionally slammed into the Moon on Wednesday, August 5, 2026. The object, identified as a Falcon 9 upper stage, was expected to impact the lunar surface at approximately 06:35 GMT. As of now, there is no official confirmation from SpaceX or space agencies that the collision occurred.

Scientists say the impact poses no danger to Earth. However, the crash is expected to leave behind a new crater on the Moon’s surface.

The Falcon 9 upper stage had been drifting in space for some time after a previous launch and was on a trajectory that made lunar impact likely.

While unintentional lunar impacts are not unprecedented, each one gives researchers a chance to study how objects strike the Moon and what craters they form.