A NASA-led study released by August 22, 2026, tested five species of fungi and bacteria and found that some could survive under certain conditions on the moon's surface. The finding raises concerns about potential unintended transfer of Earth life to the lunar environment.
SpaceX achieved a lunar milestone and United Launch Alliance appointed a new boss on August 21, 2026. Line 1 regarding Taiwan's satellite launcher setback is unrelated.
NASA's Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter captured before-and-after images of a new lunar crater created when a SpaceX Falcon 9 upper stage struck the Moon on 5 August 2026. The crater is approximately 60 feet across.
Before-and-after NASA images released August 18–20, 2026, reveal a 60-foot-wide crater on the moon carved by a SpaceX rocket booster that crashed into the lunar surface.
A discarded SpaceX rocket upper stage was on collision course to hit the moon on August 1, 2026, at 5,400 mph, creating an impact equivalent to three tons of TNT and generating a dust plume scientists plan to observe.
Between 2026-07-30 and 2026-07-31, reports confirmed that a discarded Falcon 9 upper stage is expected to crash into the Moon on August 5, 2026, near Einstein Crater at approximately 5,400 mph. The impact debris plume is predicted to be visible through some ground-based telescopes.