Key facts
- The Zhuque-2E rocket's upper stage, measuring 11 feet in diameter, landed in Minnesota.
- The rocket launched on September 15, 2026, deploying 10 satellites for the Qianfan communications network.
- International law assigns liability for damage caused by space debris to the launching country.
A spent upper stage from China's Zhuque-2E rocket deorbited and landed in a Minnesota farmer's cornfield on September 15, 2026. The rocket, which launched carrying 10 networking satellites for the Qianfan communications network, had an upper stage with a diameter of 11 feet, matching the size of the object found. International law holds the country that launches space objects liable for any damage they cause on the ground. While deorbiting spent rocket stages is a responsible practice, the Zhuque-2E's upper stage's reentry may have been uncontrolled, as it fell from orbit the same day it launched. LandSpace, the rocket's owner, has not commented on the incident.