SpaceX Falcon 9 Upper Stage Set to Impact Moon Near Einstein Crater on Aug. 5, 2026
The spent Falcon 9 upper stage that launched Firefly Aerospace's mission will strike the lunar surface near Einstein crater on Aug. 5, 2026 at about 5,400 mph, providing scientists with impact data.
A spent Falcon 9 upper stage that delivered Firefly Aerospace's Blue Ghost Mission 2 will collide with the Moon on Aug. 5, 2026. The impact is expected near the Einstein crater on the near side of the Moon at approximately 06:35–06:44 UTC (02:35–02:44 a.m. ET) and at a speed of about 5,400 mph (2.4 km/s).
The stage entered a 26-day elliptical Earth orbit after separation and, lacking fuel, was gradually perturbed by Earth, lunar and solar gravity as well as solar radiation pressure. Over the following 18 months the trajectory evolved into a lunar collision course. Independent astronomer Bill Gray, using his Project Pluto tracking software, has calculated the impact window and location.
"We now have another upper stage due to hit the moon, this one on Aug. 5 and (just barely) on the near side of the moon," Gray said, as reported by Space.com.
Scientists plan to observe the event with professional telescopes and spacecraft instruments, hoping to study the ejecta plume and crater formation, which can inform models of lunar subsurface structure. The impact is not expected to pose any risk to Earth or ongoing lunar activities. Visibility from the ground will be limited due to the bright, sunlit terrain and the brief nature of the flash.