Moon litter: Experts urge rules to stop rocket debris piling up

Experts are calling for new international rules to prevent space companies from dumping old rockets on the moon, following a Falcon 9 stage crash that stirred a visible dust plume. The 8,800-pound Falcon 9 stage hit the moon on Aug. 5, joining roughly 3,000 manmade objects and 200 tons of Earth material on the lunar surface. Experts warn governance has not kept pace with increasing lunar activity. The 1967 Outer Space Treaty lacks clear definitions of harmful contamination or waste limits. As commercial missions grow, unregulated impacts could damage scientific sites and future infrastructure.