NASA has confirmed that a SpaceX rocket stage crashed into the Moon, leaving behind a new crater on the lunar surface, according to nasanet.
The collision was first reported by scientists who tracked the rocket's trajectory, with Telemundo 51 Fresno noting that researchers were certain the booster would strike the Moon. The impact has now been officially verified by NASA, nasanet reports.
South Korean observers captured before-and-after imagery of the lunar surface, showing the change caused by the crash, according to Yahoo. Infobae also reported that a satellite recorded the difference in the Moon's appearance following the impact, offering a clear visual record of the new crater's formation.
The event has drawn widespread attention, with Meteored México noting that observers around the world are now looking toward the Moon to spot the newly formed crater. The exact size and location of the crater have not been detailed in the available reporting.
This incident highlights the growing issue of space debris and the unintended consequences of launching hardware into deep space. While rocket stages often burn up in Earth's atmosphere or are guided to controlled reentries, this particular booster was left on a trajectory that led to a lunar collision.
The confirmation from NASA marks a rare official acknowledgment of an unplanned impact on the Moon. It also raises questions about how future missions will track and manage discarded hardware to avoid similar events.
What to watch next: Whether NASA or other agencies release additional details about the crater's dimensions and the specific mission that launched the rocket stage.
