Falcon 9 crash into Moon near Einstein crater yields fresh data

A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket stage crashed into the Moon near the Einstein crater, NASA confirmed, offering scientists a rare opportunity to study lunar surface composition and impact effects. The four-ton second stage struck at about 8,690 km/h, but the impact was not directly observed. Initial evidence came from the Very Large Telescope in Chile, which recorded a brief flash and a dust cloud visible for five to ten minutes. Spectroscopy detected sodium, likely from ejected lunar soil, and lithium, possibly from the rocket. The crash poses no danger, but may improve models for future Moon landing missions.