# Bill Gray

Type: Person

Source: GetYourBrief — https://getyourbrief.com/entity/bill-gray
Canonical HTML page: https://getyourbrief.com/entity/bill-gray

## Timeline

- **2026-08-05T02:34:00-04:00**: Falcon 9 Upper Stage Impacts Moon — The 5-ton rocket stage strikes near the Einstein crater at 5,400 mph, expected to vaporize, create a flash, and produce an ejecta plume for scientific observation.
- **2026-08-05T07:28:00+01:00**: Falcon 9 stage impacts the Moon — The 4,000 kg rocket stage strikes near Einstein Crater at approximately 5,400 mph (8,690 km/h), generating a flash and dust plume.
- **2026-08-05**: SpaceX Falcon 9 Upper Stage Hits Moon Near Einstein Crater — The stage impacts at 5,400 mph (3 tons TNT equivalent), generating a crater ~90 ft wide and a visible debris plume. LRO and Danuri will document the aftermath.
- **2026-08-05**: Predicted Lunar Impact — The Falcon 9 upper stage is expected to strike near Einstein Crater at 5,400 mph, producing a crater and a large ejecta plume visible from Earth.
- **2026-04**: Impact trajectory identified — Astronomer Bill Gray publishes a report confirming that the derelict stage is on course to hit the Moon, based on months of tracking.
- **2025-01-15**: Falcon 9 Launch — SpaceX launches a Falcon 9 from Kennedy Space Center carrying a pair of lunar landers. After payload separation, the upper stage is left in an unstable Earth-moon trajectory.
- **2025-01**: Firefly Aerospace lunar lander launched — A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket launches a lunar lander for Firefly Aerospace on a high-energy trajectory that leaves the second stage in space.
- **2022-03-04**: Chinese Rocket Impact — A Chinese Long March rocket stage accidentally impacts the lunar far side, creating a double crater. This was the first known unintentional lunar debris collision.
- **2022**: Chinese Rocket Segment Impacts Lunar Far Side — A spent Chinese booster stage accidentally crashes into the Moon, creating a double crater and marking the first known unintentional rocket impact.

## Recent coverage (4 stories, network-wide)

### SpaceX Falcon 9 Stage to Hit Moon at 5,400 mph: Scientific Windfall or Debris Disaster?
2026-08-05 03:46:22 · Sector: space · Sentiment: Neutral · Impact: 5/10 · Sources: 2

A 4,000 kg Falcon 9 second stage will crash into the Moon today at 8,690 km/h, providing an unprecedented, real-time lunar impact study while raising alarms about cislunar debris. The event spotlights the collision risk as commercial and government Moon missions accelerate.
Full story: https://getspacebrief.com/story/spacex-falcon9-moon-impact-5400mph-scientific-debris

### 5-Ton SpaceX Rocket Stage to Hit Moon at 5,400 mph: A Unique Calibration Event
2026-08-05 00:55:42 · Sector: space · Sentiment: Neutral · Impact: 5/10 · Sources: 2

A discarded SpaceX Falcon 9 upper stage will strike the Moon on Aug. 5, providing an unprecedented calibration opportunity for impact models. Scientists will study the plume to map lunar composition, and the event highlights the growing need for space-debris norms in cislunar space.
Full story: https://getspacebrief.com/story/spacex-falcon9-moon-impact-2026

### Falcon 9 stage to slam moon at 5,400 mph: Second accidental lunar debris strike
2026-08-01 15:55:15 · Sector: space · Sentiment: Neutral · Impact: 6/10 · Sources: 2

A spent SpaceX Falcon 9 upper stage, adrift since its 2025 lunar lander mission, will crash into the moon near Einstein Crater on August 5, 2026. The 5,400 mph impact — the second known unintentional lunar debris collision — will offer a rare observational opportunity while reigniting concerns over cislunar space debris and the lack of disposal norms.
Full story: https://getspacebrief.com/story/spacex-falcon9-moon-impact-debris-2026

### 5,400-mph SpaceX rocket stage to hit Moon near Einstein Crater on Aug 5
2026-08-01 15:34:32 · Sector: space · Sentiment: Neutral · Impact: 5/10 · Sources: 5

A rogue SpaceX Falcon 9 upper stage will slam into the Moon at hypersonic speed, offering a rare science opportunity and highlighting cislunar debris risks for future missions.
Full story: https://getspacebrief.com/story/spacex-falcon9-moon-impact-2026-space

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