On 5 August, a derelict SpaceX rocket stage collided with the Moon, creating a new crater near Einstein Crater. The rocket stage, which had been abandoned in a high orbit after launching in 2025, was travelling at 5,400 miles per hour at the time of impact.
Astronomers reportedly expressed excitement about the event, with the European Southern Observatory observing sodium and lithium flaring in the debris plume. This observation was described as a "bonus" by the observatory.
The incident has been described by one expert, who tracks space junk, as a "receipt" for an industry that treats space as a dumping ground. This expert argues that while SpaceX did not deliberately aim for the Moon, the company did not prevent the collision.
Rocket bodies have previously impacted the Moon, including in 2022. The expert suggests that the accumulation of space debris, particularly in low Earth orbit, highlights a pattern of abandonment rather than disposal by operators.