Moonquake: What a Rocket Strike on the Satellite Could Mean
A spent Falcon 9 upper stage, launched in January 2025, drifted for a year and a half before crashing into the Moon at 8,700 km/h. NASA says there is no threat, and a crater 18 m wide and 3.6 m deep was formed. The agency sees scientific value, while Newsweek experts suggest possible local seismic shifts.
A spent Falcon 9 rocket stage, used in January 2025 to deliver private landers to the Moon, crashed into the lunar surface after a year and a half of uncontrolled drift. The impact occurred on Wednesday, with a speed of 8,700 kilometers per hour at the moment of collision. According to NASA, the incident poses no threat to Earth or the Moon, and a crater about 18 meters wide and 3.6 meters deep was formed on the surface. The agency sees scientific benefits: studying the soil, geological data, and refining models for future missions. Newsweek experts do not rule out local tectonic shifts or moonquakes, but there are no detailed forecasts.