South Korea's Danuri orbiter photographs SpaceX rocket impact near Einstein Crater on Moon

A defunct SpaceX Falcon 9 upper stage struck the Moon on August 5, 2026, at 5,400 mph, and South Korea's Danuri orbiter captured before-and-after images of the resulting crater. The impact occurred near Einstein crater on the Moon's northwestern limb. Danuri's eight imaging sessions show darker terrain, indicating ejected dust and rock. NASA had predicted a crater 60–90 feet wide and 12–16 feet deep. The crash posed no risk to Earth but highlights a lack of regulations for deep-space debris. NASA's Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter may later capture follow-up images to refine size estimates.