SpaceX rocket stage impacts lunar far side near Einstein crater

A SpaceX Falcon 9 second stage struck the Moon on August 5, 2026, at 2.43 km/s, creating a new crater. It was the ninth such impact and third unintentional. The spent stage, designated F9-427, launched on January 15, 2025, carrying two lunar landers. After deploying them, it remained in an elliptical orbit until solar radiation and gravity perturbations brought it down on the far side near Einstein crater. Previous rocket-stage impacts include deliberate Apollo stages and LCROSS, plus a 2022 Chinese stage. With more lunar missions planned, experts urge coordination to avoid such events; scientists also see an opportunity to study crater formation.