Danuri to Capture SpaceX Rocket's Moon Crash and Surface Changes

South Korea's Danuri lunar orbiter will observe a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket upper stage crashing into the Moon on August 5, 2026, marking the first planned observation of an artificial object's lunar impact and its aftermath. The 4.9-ton rocket stage, which launched Firefly Aerospace's Blue Ghost lander in January, will hit near the Einstein crater at 2.43 km per second, creating a 20-30 meter crater and releasing energy equivalent to 3 tons of TNT. Danuri will capture before-and-after images using its high-resolution camera during three passes over the impact site. The Korea Aerospace Research Institute has already photographed the target area for comparison. Images will be shared with domestic researchers and NASA for joint studies, though experts note the event raises concerns about space debris damaging the Moon's surface as lunar exploration increases.