Commentary: An abandoned SpaceX rocket is about to crash into the moon - the real problem comes next

Commentary

SpaceX has unintentionally acquired the power to permanently alter the moon, says this lawyer.

An abandoned SpaceX rocket stage is expected to slam into the moon on Aug 5. The Falcon 9 rocket was launched on January 15, 2025. (Reuters/Steve Nesius)

04 Aug 2026 05:58AM

GOLD COAST, Queensland: On Wednesday Aug 5 (early afternoon Singapore time), an abandoned SpaceX rocket stage is expected to slam into the moon at around 8,700 kmh.Launched in January 2025, the rocket sent two commercial lunar landers toward Earth’s nearest neighbour. 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.For astronomers, the accident is a scientific opportunity. As scientists know the rocket’s size, speed and roughly where it will hit, the impact presents a rare chance to study exactly what happens when something impacts the moon.