A viral video circulating on social media that appears to show a SpaceX rocket crashing into the Moon is fake, according to a report from TIMES Indonesia. The outlet did not provide details on how the video was debunked or what it actually depicts, but it explicitly labeled the footage as inauthentic.
The claim of a SpaceX rocket striking the Moon has been circulating for some time, with multiple outlets reporting on the event. According to Kompas.id, South Korea's Danuri lunar orbiter has identified the location of an impact site left by a former SpaceX rocket on the Moon's surface. BBC reported that scientists view the crash as beneficial for research purposes, as it provides a fresh crater to study. CNBC Indonesia described images showing the Moon "riddled with holes" after being hit by a 4-ton rocket, while Harianjogja.com noted that the incident has raised concerns among SpaceX investors.
TIMES Indonesia's report that the viral video is fake does not necessarily contradict the underlying event—it only disputes the authenticity of that specific footage. The outlet's story suggests that while a rocket impact may have occurred, the widely shared video clip does not show the real event.
This distinction matters because misinformation around space events often spreads quickly, and viewers may struggle to tell genuine imagery from fabricated content. The report from TIMES Indonesia serves as a reminder to verify viral space footage before accepting it as real.
What to watch next: Whether space agencies or SpaceX officially confirm the impact site and release verified imagery of the crater, which would settle the question of what the actual collision looked like.
