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SpaceX Falcon 9 Upper Stage to Crash Moon Aug 5 2026

7/31/2026

Summary

SpaceX Moon Impact

SpaceX’s Falcon 9 upper stage will hit the Moon on Aug. 5, 2026 near Einstein crater.
The 40-foot stage will strike at 5,400 mph, releasing energy of three tons of TNT and a 90-foot crater.
NASA’s Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter and South Korea’s Danuri will image the crash as Danuri passes within two miles.
Benjamin Fernando says the impact will aid debris-hazard studies.
Jonathan McDowell says it poses no danger to Earth.

Summary

Amateur Astronomers Target

Amateur astronomers are urged to aim small telescopes at the predicted lunar impact site at 06:35 UTC on Aug. 5 2026.
Best viewing is in South America and low-middle North America.
Researchers say the flash will likely be too faint for naked eye, but the ejecta plume could be bright enough for sensitive telescopes.
The authors propose using the impact to test seismic-location pipelines, calibrate flash-brightness, and raise questions about guidelines for lunar alteration.

History

Historical Context

In 2009 NASA’s LCROSS mission crashed the Atlas V Centaur stage into the Moon’s permanently shadowed Cabeus crater, flying the Shepherding spacecraft through the plume and confirming water ice at about 2.5 km s?¹ impact speed. Building on that low-cost impact technique, a 2026 Falcon 9 upper-stage will strike near Einstein crater, observed by NASA, South Korea’s Danuri and amateurs to refine debris-hazard models for future resource-exploration.

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SpaceX Moon Impact

SpaceX’s Falcon 9 upper stage will hit the Moon on Aug. 5, 2026 near Einstein crater.
The 40-foot stage will strike at 5,400 mph, releasing energy of three tons of TNT and a 90-foot crater.
NASA’s Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter and South Korea’s Danuri will image the crash as Danuri passes within two miles.
Benjamin Fernando says the impact will aid debris-hazard studies.
Jonathan McDowell says it poses no danger to Earth.

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