New Delhi, Aug. 5 -- A discarded SpaceX rocket stage is set to crash into the Moon in an unusual but harmless event that scientists say could offer valuable insights into the lunar surface while also highlighting the growing challenge of space debris.

The object, a four-ton Falcon 9 second stage launched during a lunar mission in January 2025, is expected to slam into the Moon at around 2:35 a.m. ET (0635 GMT/1:05 PM IST) on Wednesday (August 5) at a speed of 5,400 mph (8,690 km/h).

Although the impact will create a plume of lunar dust, experts say it poses no danger to Earth and is unlikely to be visible without specialized telescopes.

The object is the second stage of a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket that launched Firefly Aerospace's lunar l...