SpaceX Moon impact to unlock new ejecta science on Aug. 5
On Aug. 5, 2026, a spent SpaceX Falcon 9 upper stage will crash into the Moon near Einstein crater, likely generating a bright ejecta plume up to 75–100 km high that could be visible from Earth with telescopes for minutes. Scientists from UT Austin and Los Alamos say the event will provide a rare opportunity to study ejecta‑plume dynamics, test methods to localize impacts, and assess hazards from artificial space debris for future lunar missions, with NASA’s Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter monitoring the site before and after the impact to aid observations and science.
