ZOAHARIAN.COM – The debris from a giant Chinese-made rocket is back in the spotlight after it was found falling in a cornfield in Stevens County, Minnesota, United States. The metal object with a diameter of about 3.4 meters is thought to be part of the ZhuQue-2E rocket launcher belonging to the Chinese space company, LandSpace.

This incident adds to concerns about the threat of space debris re-entering the Earth's atmosphere and potentially falling on residential areas and land owned by residents.

Quoted on Thursday (22/10/2026), the discovery began when residents of Stevens County reported a large metal object stuck in a corn field. Its unusual shape makes people suspect that the object comes from outer space.

Local police then coordinated with federal authorities to identify and evacuate the object.

The search results led to parts of the ZhuQue-2E rocket which was previously launched from the Dongfeng area, China, on October 14 2026. The rocket carried ten satellites which were successfully placed in a predetermined orbit.

However, the success of the launch mission left other problems. It is thought that some of the rocket components did not completely burn up when they re-entered Earth's atmosphere.

The debris was reportedly seen smoldering in the sky before finally falling to the surface.

Chinese Rocket Debris Also Found in Sampit

A similar phenomenon also occurs in Indonesia. Large pieces of metal were found in an oil palm plantation area in Sampit, East Kotawaringin Regency, Central Kalimantan.

Principal Expert Researcher in the Field of Astronomy and Astrophysics at the National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN), Thomas Djamaluddin, explained that initial identification was carried out by tracing orbital data of space objects that were thought to be passing through the Kalimantan region.

Previously, residents heard a roar from the sky on Sunday (18/10/2026) at around 17.30 WIB. The next morning, plantation workers found large metal pieces torn apart.

Based on orbital trajectory tracing, the former ZhuQue-2E rocket is strongly suspected to be related to these findings. The track moves from north to south and crosses the Kalimantan region on October 18 2026.

At around 17.36 WIB, the space object's trajectory was recorded in the Sampit area, close to the time residents reported the rumbling sound.

The matching of time and trajectory is an important clue in the process of identifying debris found in oil palm plantations.

Why Can Rocket Debris Fall to Earth?

ZhuQue-2E is a rocket developed by LandSpace, a commercial space company from China. This two-stage rocket uses a combination of liquid methane and liquid oxygen as fuel or a methalox propulsion system.

This technology was developed to support the launch of satellites into low-Earth orbit and sun-synchronous orbit.

Although most rocket components generally burn up or are destroyed when they enter the atmosphere, not all parts always burn out before reaching the Earth's surface.

Thomas explained that space debris is man-made objects that are in outer space and no longer serve their function. Examples include inactive satellites, rocket bodies, and fragments of spacecraft components.

When entering the atmosphere at very high speeds, these objects experience extreme heating due to interaction with the air. Some materials will burn, melt, or break into smaller parts.

The process of re-entering the atmosphere can also produce bright light visible from the Earth's surface. Under certain conditions, this phenomenon is accompanied by a booming or rumbling sound due to shock waves in the atmosphere.

However, components that have a strong structure and are heat resistant still have the potential to survive until they reach the ground surface.

The threat of space debris is increasingly real

The increasing activity of launching rockets and satellites has made the problem of space debris increasingly receiving attention. Debris that returns to Earth does not always fall in oceans or uninhabited areas.

The findings in Minnesota and Sampit are a reminder that man-made objects from outer space can reach areas used for daily activities.

This risk also occurred in 2024, when a component associated with the International Space Station penetrated the roof of a house in Florida, United States.

Although falling space debris does not always result in casualties, the potential for danger still exists, especially if large objects hit homes, public facilities or densely populated areas.

Therefore, monitoring orbital trajectories, identifying debris, and planning the disposal of rocket components is an important part of managing space activities.

This event also shows that the success of sending a satellite into orbit does not necessarily end all the risks of a launch mission. This is because some of the remaining components can still return to Earth and cause problems for society.