{
  "id": 105104,
  "title": "A 40-Foot-Long SpaceX Rocket Piece Is About to Slam Into the Moon — Here's What to Expect From the Impact",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/03/a-40-foot-long-spacex-rocket-piece-is-about-to-slam-into-the-moon",
  "topic": "tech",
  "section": "Tech",
  "published": "2026-08-03T22:30:00.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Discover Magazine",
    "slug": "discover-magazine",
    "url": "https://www.discovermagazine.com/a-40-foot-long-spacex-rocket-piece-is-about-to-slam-into-the-moon-here-s-what-to-expect-from-the-impact-49488"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Amateur astronomers are set to witness an unusual event on the lunar surface when a SpaceX rocket piece crashes into the Moon on Aug. 5, 2026. The object, a nearly 40-foot-long component of a Falcon 9 rocket, will impact the Moon at approximately 5,400 MPH, offering scientists a rare opportunity to observe an artificial impact. The upper stage, once used to launch lunar landers, was not destroyed during the mission and will continue its orbit around Earth, eventually smashing into the Moon near the Einstein crater. Amateur astronomers best positioned to witness the impact are those in South America, the eastern U.S., and Canada. While the impact flash may not be visible due to the object's slow speed, the ejecta plume could be observed, extending up to 62 miles above the impact site. The crater formed by the impact will be around 88 feet wide and 16 feet deep, and researchers plan to study it using orbiting spacecraft like NASA’s Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter.",
  "summary": "Learn about the SpaceX rocket piece that is going to crash into the Moon on Aug. 5, 2026, and find out what might be visible from the impact.",
  "key_points": [
    "SpaceX rocket piece to crash into Moon on Aug. 5, 2026.",
    "Nearly 40-foot-long component will impact at 5,400 MPH.",
    "Amateur astronomers in South America, U.S., Canada to observe."
  ],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}