NASA's Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter captured images of a new crater on the Moon created by a discarded SpaceX Falcon 9 upper stage [1].
The images provide rare visual evidence of a human-made object impacting the lunar surface. This data helps scientists understand the physics of high-velocity impacts, and the long-term accumulation of orbital debris on other planetary bodies.
The impact occurred on Aug. 5, 2026 [1], at 2:34 AM ET [5]. The LRO captured the resulting site on Aug. 11-12 [1]. The imagery reveals a fresh crater approximately 60 feet wide [3].
The object was a discarded upper stage from a Falcon 9 rocket. This component was released following the launch of the Firefly Blue Ghost 1 mission in January 2025 [1]. The piece of hardware was roughly the height of a five-story building [5].
The impact site is located on the lunar surface near Einstein Crater [5]. The LRO imaging team used the orbiter's high-resolution cameras to document the site and gather new details about the impact dynamics.
Because the Moon lacks an atmosphere to slow down incoming objects, the upper stage hit the surface at full orbital velocity. This resulted in the creation of the 60-foot crater [3] seen in the NASA photographs.
“The imagery reveals a fresh crater approximately 60 feet wide.”
This event highlights the growing challenge of space debris management as lunar missions increase. While the impact was unplanned, the ability of the LRO to locate and image a specific 60-foot crater demonstrates the precision of current lunar surveillance capabilities, which will be critical for tracking future hardware and protecting landing sites.
