SpaceX upper stage impacts Moon after drifting for a year, scientists say

Astronomers say a SpaceX Falcon upper stage collided with the Moon on Wednesday after spending a year drifting in lunar orbit. The impact, estimated at about 5,400 mph (8,700 kph), was not directly observed, but the European Southern Observatory’s Very Large Telescope in Chile recorded a brief plume of sodium and lithium extending several kilometers into space, which scientists interpret as debris from the crash.

Boston University researcher Carl Schmidt said his team is “100% certain” the plume indicates a lunar impact, adding that the telescope captured the phenomenon for five to ten minutes after the event. Retired astrophysicist Jonathan McDowell, who had been tracking the 4-ton upper stage, stated that the rocket “is now in teeny, little pieces scattered over the moon near Einstein Crater.” He expects visual confirmation to come from NASA’s Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter, which is scheduled to image the site next week.

SpaceX spokesperson Julianna Scheiman told reporters the company is working with NASA to prevent similar incidents, noting that a combination of solar activity and lunar gravity unintentionally altered the rocket’s trajectory. The upper stage had launched two private lunar landers—Firefly Aerospace’s Blue Ghost and ispace’s Resilience—on Jan. 15, 2025. While Resilience crashed, Blue Ghost successfully landed, becoming the first private spacecraft to touch the Moon.

The incident adds to concerns about lunar debris as the United States and China accelerate plans for crewed missions and commercial activities. NASA’s Artemis program aims to establish a sustainable presence on the Moon, with private companies such as SpaceX and Blue Origin slated to provide landers for future astronaut missions, potentially as early as 2028.