Falcon 9 Upper Stage Set to Impact Moon at Supersonic Speed

Astronomers say a Falcon 9 upper stage from the Jan 2025 Moon mission will strike the Moon (likely near Einstein Crater) on Aug 5, 2026, traveling about 2.43 km/s (5,400 mph) — seven times the speed of sound — creating a small crater but doing no damage. The object has been tracked since launch and is identified as the second stage from SpaceX's Blue Ghost and ispace's Hakuto-R missions; experts note disposal orbits could prevent future lunar hits as missions to the Moon increase.