SpaceX猎鹰9号火箭的废弃上面级已撞击月球[1]。这枚火箭上面级于周三以5400英里/小时（8700公里/小时）的速度撞向月球西侧爱因斯坦陨石坑附近[3][4]。虽然官方尚未正式确认，但空间追踪专家和退休天体物理学家确信撞击已经发生[3][4]。
火箭上面级长超过40英尺（12米），重量4吨[4]。这枚火箭于2025年1月发射，搭载两台月球着陆器[1]。在太空中漂浮约一年后，火箭被月球引力捕获，最终撞上月面[1][4]。退休天体物理学家乔纳森·麦克道威尔表示，"毫无疑问"火箭"现在在爱因斯坦陨石坑附近月球上散成小碎片"[4]。
这次撞击形成了约14米的撞击坑，可见尘埃羽流扬升至约100公里，持续数分钟[1]。对于行星地质学家而言，这次意外碰撞成为一次难得的受控实验机会，可用于测试撞击坑形成模型、研究碎屑飞溅规律，并为未来月球着陆器和基地的设计提供参考[1]。NASA月球侦察轨道器预计将在下周飞过撞击现场并发回照片[4]。
SpaceX发言人朱莉安娜·谢曼表示，公司正与NASA合作以避免未来碎片撞击，并强调这次预期撞击并非故意，而是太阳活动和重力的组合意外造成[4]。自1959年以来，已有数十个航天器撞击月球[1]。
A spent upper stage from a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket struck the Moon near the Einstein crater on Wednesday at approximately 5,400 miles per hour (8,700 kilometers per hour), according to space tracking experts [1][3][4]. The rocket stage, which had drifted through space for about a year following its launch in January 2025, created an impact crater measuring approximately 14 meters across [1]. Although SpaceX and NASA have not yet formally confirmed the collision, experts are certain the event occurred as predicted [3][4].
The rocket upper stage, measuring over 40 feet in length and weighing approximately 4 tons, was originally launched carrying lunar landers [1][4]. After spending 18 months in orbit, the stage was captured by the Moon's gravitational pull and fell to the surface [1]. The collision generated a visible dust plume that extended up to 100 kilometers and persisted for several minutes [1]. SpaceX representative Julianna Scheiman stated that the company is collaborating with NASA to prevent future debris impacts, emphasizing that this predicted collision was unintentional and resulted from a combination of solar activity and gravitational forces [4]. Retired astrophysicist Jonathan McDowell expressed confidence that the rocket "is now in small pieces scattered near the Einstein crater on the Moon" [4].
For planetary geologists, the unplanned impact provides a rare controlled experiment opportunity to test crater formation models, study debris ejection patterns, and gather insights for designing future lunar landers and bases [1]. NASA's Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter is expected to pass over the impact site next week and transmit photographs [4]. This collision represents the latest instance of lunar debris concerns, a problem likely to intensify as the United States and China compete to return astronauts to the Moon [4].