The South Korean lunar orbiter Danuri has captured the first images of a Falcon 9 second-stage rocket body impact on the Moon, according to the Korea Aerospace Research Institute (KARI). The collision, which occurred on August 5, 2026, involved a four-ton rocket booster that had been drifting in deep space for more than a year following the completion of an earlier mission.
KARI published footage and comparison photos on YouTube showing the targeted lunar region before and after the impact. Researchers identified a new dark area on the post-collision photograph near the Einstein and Bell craters on the edge of the Moon, according to institute statements. The upper stage of the Falcon 9 weighed at least four tons, measured roughly the size of a five-story building, and traveled at a speed of approximately 2.43 kilometers per second, or about 8,500 kilometers per hour.
Impact Analysis and Expected Crater Size
NASA estimated the impact probability at 100 percent prior to the collision, projecting that the spent booster would carve out an 18-meter-wide crater. According to space agency data, the high-speed impact was expected to eject substantial amounts of lunar dust and rocks across the surrounding terrain. No spacecraft was positioned to record the exact moment of the collision live, forcing researchers to rely on before-and-after photographic comparisons. While various AI-generated simulations and videos surfaced online following the event, KARI and other space agencies confirmed they do not reflect actual observational data.
Did you know? NASA has a long history of intentionally crashing spent rocket stages into the Moon for scientific and seismic research, a practice that dates back to the Apollo era.
Upcoming Observations and Global Data Sharing
KARI plans to distribute the Danuri impact images to researchers worldwide for independent analysis. Scientists are currently awaiting additional data and high-resolution photography from NASA’s Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter (LRO), which is scheduled to image the site in the coming days. Additionally, researchers are reviewing observations from ground-based telescopes across the Americas that may have captured the flash or the debris plume kicked up beyond the lunar limb, according to mission planners.
NASA leadership noted that lunar impacts by natural meteoroids occur frequently. “In reality, meteoroids impact the surface of the Moon every hour, and impacts comparable to the impacts of this upper member occur roughly every six days,” NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman posted on X. Isaacman added that future lunar infrastructure will likely incorporate reusable spacecraft designed to serve as both transport and active operational assets.
Frequently Asked Questions
When did the Falcon 9 rocket body hit the Moon?
The collision took place on August 5, 2026, around 8:35 AM Polish time, according to orbital calculations and space agency tracking.
Which spacecraft captured the first images of the impact site?
South Korea’s Danuri lunar orbiter captured the first post-impact images, according to data released by the Korea Aerospace Research Institute (KARI).
Did the rocket impact pose any danger to Earth?
No, NASA confirmed that the trajectory of the spent booster presented no threat to Earth.
What are your thoughts on orbital debris tracking around the Moon? Join the discussion in the comments below, share this article with fellow space enthusiasts, or subscribe to our newsletter for more mission updates.
Worth a look