Washington DC: A spent SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket upper stage has struck the lunar surface in an unintentional collision, impacting the Moon at a velocity of roughly 5,400 mph. According to multiple reports, the collision occurred on 5 August 2026, gouging a fresh crater into the lunar terrain. While most rocket upper stages are directed back towards Earth to safely burn up in the atmosphere, this booster required additional thrust to send its payload to the Moon. SpaceX official Julianna Scheiman confirmed that environmental factors and solar activity gradually nudged the dead rocket stage onto an unalterable crash course. With lunar missions expanding under global exploration programmes, space agencies and private operators face growing pressure to ensure spent rocket stages do not become uncontrolled hazards in cislunar space.