A SpaceX rocket stage is expected to crash into the Moon, an event that NASA says poses no threat to Earth, according to the-star.co.ke. The report, published Wednesday, August 5, 2026, indicates the impact is part of an unintentional collision course.
The news outlet notes that the rocket is set to strike the lunar surface, with the agency downplaying any danger to the planet. The story has drawn attention from multiple outlets, including the BBC, The Guardian, Space, and The New York Times, which have all covered the upcoming event.
The Guardian reports that the rocket was thought to have crashed into the Moon in an unintentional collision, suggesting the impact may have already occurred. Space, meanwhile, has raised the question of why the booster is on a collision course, pointing to the unusual nature of the trajectory.
The incident stems from a leftover rocket stage, likely from a prior mission, that has been drifting in space. Because the Moon has no atmosphere to slow an incoming object, the booster will hit the surface at high speed, creating a crater. The lack of any operational control over the stage means the impact cannot be redirected, which is why it is described as unintentional.
NASA’s reassurance that there is no danger to Earth is based on the Moon’s distance from the planet and the relatively small size of the rocket compared to the lunar surface. The event is expected to be observable by telescopes, though no official viewing guidance has been provided.
What to watch next: Whether astronomers confirm the exact time and location of the impact, and if any imagery of the resulting crater is released in the coming days.
