# Falcon 9 upper-stage Moon impact : Aug 2026 > Live situation record from CLSTR: https://clstr.news/situations/falcon-9-upperstage-moon-impact > Updated: 2026-08-20T21:16:02.000Z. Sources: 579. Developments: 14. NASA has released high-resolution imagery from the Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter (LRO) confirming the details of the crater created by the SpaceX Falcon 9 upper stage impact on 5 August 2026. The images, captured between 11 and 12 August after a six-day wait for correct orbital alignment, show a crater approximately 18 meters (60 feet) wide and less than 3 meters (10 feet) deep. The impact site is characterized by distinct visual patterns: bright streaks of fresh material excavated from approximately 1.5 feet below the surface and darker rays composed of surface dust and rocks displaced from near the surface. These features have been described as resembling “butterfly wings.” This follows initial observations by South Korea’s Danuri orbiter and spectroscopic detection of sodium and lithium emissions by the European Southern Observatory’s Very Large Telescope. To obtain these images, engineers had to tilt the LRO as it flew 60 miles above the surface to capture the specific site. The Falcon 9 upper stage, which weighed roughly four tonnes and launched on 15 January 2025 to deliver the Firefly Blue Ghost One and ispace RESILIENCE landers, struck the Moon near the Einstein crater at approximately 8,700 km/h (5,400 mph) after an unexpected trajectory change. The impact released energy equivalent to approximately three tons of TNT. While the event was classified as a safe disposal with no risk to Earth, it has intensified global concerns regarding the regulation of cislunar space debris as commercial lunar exploration expands. Scientists have noted that the impact provides a unique opportunity to study lunar surface composition and the effects of high-energy collisions in a vacuum environment. ## Claims - Impact will occur near Einstein crater on the Moon’s western limb. (disputed by 34 sources) - The impact created a crater about 18–30 m in diameter and up to roughly 5 m deep. (disputed by 27 sources) - The crater is approximately 18 meters (60 feet) wide and less than 3 meters (10 feet) deep. (disputed by 24 sources) - Impact will occur near the Einstein crater on the Moon’s eastern limb. (disputed by 10 sources) - NASA says the impact poses no danger to Earth. (corroborated by 50 sources) - A section of a Falcon 9 upper stage will impact the Moon on 5 August 2026 near Einstein crater. (corroborated by 43 sources) - The Falcon 9 launched on 15 January 2025 carrying the Blue Ghost and Resilience landers. (corroborated by 42 sources) - Impact speed was about 8 700 km/h (≈2.4 km/s). (corroborated by 42 sources) - The upper stage weighs about four tonnes. (corroborated by 40 sources) ## Timeline ### 2026-08-20: NASA images lunar crater caused by SpaceX Falcon 9 impact NASA's Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter has imaged an 18-meter-wide crater on the Moon caused by the impact of a SpaceX Falcon 9 upper stage on August 5th. 7 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/nasa-images-lunar-crater-caused-by-spacex-falcon-9-impact ### 2026-08-18: NASA reveals images of new Moon crater from SpaceX rocket crash NASA's Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter has captured detailed images of an 18-meter crater formed by a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket upper stage impact on the Moon on August 5, 2026. 95 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/nasas-lunar-reconnaissance-orbiter-images-falcon-9-impact-crater ### 2026-08-14: Falcon 9 upper stage crashes into lunar surface A Falcon 9 upper stage crashed into the moon near Einstein Crater on August 5, 2026, highlighting risks of space debris and the urgent need for international lunar governance. 3 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/falcon-9-upper-stage-crashes-into-lunar-surface ### 2026-08-12: SpaceX Moon impact video debunked A viral video claiming to show a SpaceX rocket creating a 30-meter crater on the Moon is false, despite a confirmed Falcon 9 stage impact on August 5. 2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/spacex-moon-impact-video-debunked ### 2026-08-10: SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket stage crashes into the Moon A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket stage crashed into the Moon near the Einstein crater, creating a new crater and providing scientists with valuable data on lunar composition and impact dynamics. 2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/spacex-falcon-9-rocket-stage-crashes-into-the-moon-2 ### 2026-08-08: SpaceX Falcon 9 upper stage crashes into Moon near Einstein crater A SpaceX Falcon 9 upper stage accidentally struck the Moon near the Einstein crater at 8,700 km/h, creating a new crater captured by South Korea's Danuri orbiter and detected via chemical plumes by telescopes. 25 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/falcon-9-upper-stage-impacts-moon-near-einstein-crater ### 2026-08-06: NASA Highlights Space Threats from Asteroids and Lunar Rocket Debris NASA urges planetary defence against future asteroid threats while confirming a SpaceX Falcon 9 stage unintentionally hit the Moon, offering scientific data but no risk to Earth. 8 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/nasa-highlights-space-threats-from-asteroids-and-lunar-rocket-debris ### 2026-08-05: SpaceX Falcon 9 upper stage crashes into Moon, creating new crater A 4‑ton SpaceX Falcon 9 upper stage hit the Moon on 5 Aug 2026 near Einstein crater at ~8,700 km/h, forming an 18‑27 m crater; NASA says it’s safe, and South Korea’s Danuri captured before‑and‑after images. 98 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/spacex-falcon-9-upper-stage-impacts-moon-nasa-confirms ### 2026-08-03: SpaceX Falcon 9 upper stage impacts Moon, creating new crater A four‑ton SpaceX Falcon 9 upper stage hit the Moon on 5 Aug 2026 near Einstein crater, forming an 18‑30 m crater, raising a dust plume, and posing no Earth risk. 275 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/spacex-recovers-starship-prototype-ship-40-from-indian-ocean ### 2026-08-01: SpaceX Falcon 9 Upper Stage to Impact Moon on Aug 5, 2026 SpaceX’s Falcon 9 upper stage will hit the Moon near Einstein crater on 5 Aug 2026 at ~06:35 UTC, traveling ~8 700 km/h, creating a 27‑30 m crater and dust plume; NASA and Danuri will observe, no danger toEarth 68 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/spacex-falcon-9-upper-stage-to-crash-into-moon-near-einstein-crater ### 2026-07-30: SpaceX Falcon 9 Upper Stage to Impact Moon on Aug 5 A 5‑ton Falcon 9 upper stage from a Jan 2025 launch will strike the Moon near Einstein crater on Aug 5 2026 at ~8,700 km/h, creating a ~27 m crater and a dust plume observable from Earth; NASA and South Korea’s 54 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/spacex-falcon-9-upper-stage-to-impact-moon-on-aug-5-2026 ### 2026-07-27: SpaceX Falcon 9 Upper Stage Set to Impact Moon on Aug 5, 2026 SpaceX’s Falcon 9 upper stage will hit the Moon on 5 Aug 2026 near Einstein crater at 2.43 km s⁻¹, creating a 20‑30 m crater and a high‑altitude dust plume; observations aim to study lunar impact physics. 15 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/spacex-succeeds-with-starship-test-flight-as-its-falcon-9-stage-set-to-hit-moon-in-2026 ### 2026-07-23: SpaceX Falcon 9 upper stage to impact Moon near Einstein crater on Aug 5 On 5 Aug 2026, SpaceX’s Falcon 9 upper stage will hit the Moon near Einstein crater, producing a flash and debris plume observable from the Americas. 6 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/falcon-9-upper-stage-to-impact-moons-einstein-crater-on-aug-5-2026 ### 2026-07-19: Falcon 9 upper stage set to impact Moon in August 2026 SpaceX’s Falcon 9 upper stage will strike the Moon on 5 Aug 2026, forming a 20‑30 m crater near Einstein crater; NASA will observe the impact for scientific study. 42 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/spacex-falcon-9-rocket-stage-expected-to-impact-moon-in-august --- Cite as: Falcon 9 upper-stage Moon impact : Aug 2026. CLSTR, https://clstr.news/situations/falcon-9-upperstage-moon-impact