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Falcon 9 Rocket Upper Stage to Strike Moon in August, Astronomers Predict
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Science·4/29/2026AI summary

Falcon 9 Rocket Upper Stage to Strike Moon in August, Astronomers Predict

Astronomers predict a Falcon 9 rocket upper stage from a January 2025 launch carrying Firefly's Blue Ghost and ispace's Hakuto-R lunar landers will impact the Moon on August 5, 2025 at 2:44 am ET. The 13.8-meter upper stage, tracked as 2025-010D with over 1,000 observations, will strike the near side at 2.43 km/s (5,400 mph) near Einstein Crater. While the impact will create a small crater, astronomers say there is no risk to any current lunar assets. The article notes this is not the first false alarm of this type and recommends launch companies dispose of upper stages in solar orbits to prevent future lunar contamination.

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Ars Technica