# SpaceX Falcon 9 lunar impact > Live situation record from CLSTR: https://clstr.news/situations/20260825-spacex-falcon-9-lunar-impact > Updated: 2026-08-25T10:05:22.000Z. Sources: 5. Developments: 2. On August 5, 2026, a spent SpaceX Falcon 9 upper stage crashed into the Moon near the Einstein Crater, creating a crater approximately 60 feet wide. The rocket stage had been in space for roughly 18 months following a January 2025 launch that deployed Firefly Aerospace’s Blue Ghost lander and a spacecraft from the Japanese company ispace. Initial imagery of the crash site was provided by South Korea’s Danuri spacecraft, followed by detailed observations from NASA’s Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter (LRO). The LRO images, captured between August 11 and 12, reveal fresh, bright material excavated from beneath the lunar surface, which contrasts with the older, darker surface material. While the stage was intended to remain in a distant orbit to avoid becoming Earth-threatening debris, its trajectory became unstable due to solar activity and gravitational forces. Scientists note that while natural meteoroid impacts of similar energy occur roughly every six days, this human-made collision offers a rare opportunity to study impact mechanics and observe lunar geological changes in real time. ## Timeline ### 2026-08-25: SpaceX Falcon 9 upper stage creates 60-foot crater on Moon A SpaceX Falcon 9 upper stage crashed into the Moon on August 5, 2026, creating a 60-foot crater that NASA is now studying to observe lunar geological processes. 2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/spacex-falcon-9-upper-stage-creates-60-foot-crater-on-moon ### 2026-08-23: SpaceX Falcon 9 impact creates 60-foot crater on the Moon NASA has captured images of a 60-foot lunar crater formed by the unplanned impact of a SpaceX Falcon 9 upper stage on August 5. 3 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/spacex-falcon-9-impact-creates-60-foot-crater-on-the-moon --- Cite as: SpaceX Falcon 9 lunar impact. CLSTR, https://clstr.news/situations/20260825-spacex-falcon-9-lunar-impact