Chinese Zhuque-2E Rocket Stage Debris Found in Minnesota Cornfield

Image: Ars Technica · Source

Debris from a Chinese Zhuque-2E rocket’s upper stage landed in a Minnesota cornfield after a September 15 launch, marking an unusual large object reentry over the US Midwest.

On September 15, 2026, a Chinese Zhuque-2E rocket launched from the Dongfeng site in China's Gobi Desert, deploying 10 satellites for the Qianfan communications network. After releasing its payload into polar orbit about 30 minutes post-liftoff, the rocket’s upper stage reignited its engine to deorbit itself but reentered prematurely over the American Midwest instead of a typical ocean drop zone.

Around the same time, fireball streaks were visible from Kansas through Minnesota and Wisconsin, corresponding with the rocket stage’s descent. About a month after the event, a farmer harvesting corn in Scott Township, Minnesota, discovered a large circular metal object roughly 11 feet in diameter embedded in his field. This matched the known diameter of the Zhuque-2E upper stage.

Authorities, including the Stevens County Sheriff’s Office and federal agencies, confirmed the metallic object as space debris and stated it posed no danger to the public. The Zhuque-2E’s deorbit burn intended to limit space debris by controlled reentry but appears to have failed, leading to a large intact fragment reaching the US ground surface—an uncommon occurrence.

China’s Qianfan constellation, analogous to SpaceX’s Starlink, aims to field thousands of satellites, with over 250 launched since 2024. LandSpace, Zhuque-2E’s manufacturer, has not publicly commented on the incident. Previous Zhuque-2E rocket missions have caused space debris in low Earth orbit, although those fragments were expected to decay faster due to lower altitude.

Under international law, China would be liable for any damage, though no injuries or significant property damage have been reported. This incident highlights challenges in ensuring safe disposal of rocket stages, particularly with increasing satellite launches and responsibilities to minimize space debris impact on Earth and orbiting assets.