- A discarded SpaceX rocket upper stage is on a collision course with the moon, expected to impact on Wednesday at 5,400 mph near Einstein Crater.
- The impact is accidental and highlights the growing problem of space debris cluttering Earth's orbit.
- This will be the second known accidental lunar crash by a rocket, following a Chinese rocket segment in 2022.
- The crash will release energy equivalent to three tons of TNT, creating a crater about 90 feet wide and 16 feet deep, visible to spacecraft but not Earth-based telescopes.
- Scientists plan to observe the event using NASA's Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter and South Korea's Danuri orbiter to study debris risks for future astronauts.
- The abandoned rocket stage, measuring 40 feet and weighing 10,000 pounds, launched two private lunar landers in January 2025.