An Abandoned SpaceX Rocket Is About to Crash Into the Moon. The Real Problem Comes Next

In the early hours of August 5 (UTC), an abandoned SpaceX rocket stage is expected to slam into the Moon at around 8,700 kilometers per hour.

Launched in January 2025, the rocket sent two commercial lunar landers toward Earth’s nearest neighbor.

With its work done, the rocket lacked the fuel to return to Earth or move into deep space. It remained in an unstable orbit until gravity finally set it on a collision course with the lunar surface.

The crash itself poses no danger. However, it signals a looming regulatory problem. As governments and companies race to build a permanent presence on the Moon, there is almost no practical framework for coordinating activities that permanently reshape the lunar environment.

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