Piece of SpaceX rocket the size of a school bus crashes into the Moon

What the report says

A SpaceX rocket upper stage has struck the Moon, according to tracking data cited by Al Jazeera, creating a new crater and giving scientists a rare chance to examine a high-speed lunar impact. The debris was described as a four-tonne piece from a Falcon 9 launched in early 2025, and it hit near Einstein Crater on Wednesday at about 8,700 kilometres per hour.

The article says the object was the second stage of a SpaceX rocket that had remained in space after delivering payloads to orbit. Over time, its path was altered by gravitational forces from the Sun, Earth and Moon, eventually putting it on a collision course. SpaceX said the impact was not intentional and could not be avoided because of the vehicle’s remaining fuel situation.

Scientists and space agencies are expected to study the site using orbiters such as NASA’s Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter and South Korea’s Danuri spacecraft. Their observations may help researchers better understand crater formation and the movement of lunar dust after impacts, though the visible flash itself may be hard to detect from orbit.

The report notes that such uncontrolled Moon impacts are uncommon. It also places the event in the broader context of increasing amounts of space debris, a concern for orbital traffic and long-term space operations.