SpaceX rocket debris set to crash into Moon, raising space debris concerns

An abandoned SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket stage is on course to crash into the Moon in early March 2022, according to astronomers tracking the debris. The rocket’s upper stage, launched in February 2015 to deploy a climate satellite, has been drifting in an uncontrolled orbit for seven years. It will strike the lunar surface at about 2.58 kilometers per second, likely near the equator on the far side of the Moon.

The impact will affect scientists who study the Moon, as the crash site could provide new data about lunar geology. The event matters because it highlights the growing problem of space debris, even in deep space. While the Moon has no atmosphere to protect it, the crash will create a fresh crater that may expose subsurface material, offering a rare opportunity for observation.

Bill Gray, the astronomer who first identified the collision course, calculated the impact date as March 4, 2022, using data from the Minor Planet Center. The rocket stage weighs about four metric tons and was originally part of the DSCOVR mission, a joint NOAA, NASA, and U.S. Air Force project to monitor solar wind. After completing its primary mission, the stage was left in a chaotic orbit around Earth and the Moon.

This is not the first time human-made debris has hit the Moon; Apollo-era rocket stages were deliberately crashed there for seismic experiments. However, this is an accidental impact, raising concerns about future uncontrolled collisions as more rockets are launched. The event underscores the need for better tracking and disposal of space hardware to prevent unintended consequences on the Moon or elsewhere.