NASA warns that Musk's rocket could soon crash into the moon

NASA has issued a warning about a potential collision with the Moon involving a rocket launched by SpaceX. The object in question is the upper stage of the Falcon 9 rocket, which was launched earlier this year. According to reports from multiple sources, including Euronews, the United States space agency and astronomer Bill Gray have raised concerns about the trajectory of this debris, which could potentially strike the Moon in late July 2026. The warning comes after a special meeting organized by NASA in early July, during which experts discussed the possibility of the impending impact. Observers such as Brian Day, who studies lunar dynamics, have noted that the Moon's environment is highly dynamic, with frequent collisions occurring due to the accumulation of space debris. The upper stage of the Falcon 9 rocket currently travels through space at speeds exceeding two kilometers per second. Specialists are debating whether the collision will be observable from Earth. Some estimates suggest that the object might graze the edge of the Moon’s disk, as viewed from our planet. In such a case, sunlight could illuminate a cloud of dust generated by the impact, making it visible to observers. However, representatives from NASA estimate that the likelihood of witnessing such an event is extremely low. William Cooke, one of NASA’s leading officials, stated that the occurrence would be very difficult, if not impossible, to observe. This potential collision is part of a growing concern over space debris. Astronomer Bill Gray, who runs the Pluto Project and maintains the astronomical software Guide, had previously calculated the possibility of the impact as early as September 2025. His program accurately predicted the collision for August 5, 2026. Earlier analyses had suggested the impact could occur as early as March, but more recent calculations have refuted that possibility. Gray emphasized that while the event itself poses no threat to Earth or future missions, it highlights the increasing problem of space debris. He pointed out that similar incidents have already occurred, such as the recorded impact of unknown debris on the Moon four years ago. NASA initially suspected the debris to be part of an old Chinese rocket, though China strongly denied these claims. Scientific missions occasionally deliberately direct spacecraft toward the Moon for research purposes, but these impacts are always carefully planned. The August 2026 collision involving the Falcon 9 rocket, however, was not part of the original mission plan. SpaceX, under the leadership of Elon Musk, has yet to provide an official statement or response to inquiries regarding the upcoming collision.