Authorities in Indonesia are investigating after a large piece of metal, believed to be debris from a Chinese space launch vehicle, crashed at a palm oil farm.
On October 20, reports indicated that a burnt metal plate measuring approximately 9 meters was discovered at a palm oil farm in East Kotawaringin, Central Kalimantan.
The debris was first spotted by farm workers on the morning of October 19, with its surface charred in several places. The following day, an additional dome-shaped metal fragment was found nearby. Residents reported hearing a loud noise in the sky on the evening of October 18.
The crash site is located about 3 kilometers from the workers' housing area, but fortunately, it fell during the night when the workers had already left for the day, preventing any injuries or damage to property. Local authorities confirmed there is no risk of radiation or toxic chemical leaks.
The Indonesian National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN) analyzed orbital tracking data and announced that the debris is highly likely to be from the Zhuque-2E rocket, launched by the Chinese private space company LandSpace. This rocket, which carried ten satellites, was launched from northwestern China and passed over Kalimantan from north to south during its ascent.
Local police and military authorities have cordoned off the crash site and are transporting the recovered debris to Iskandar Air Force Base in Pangkalan Bun for official technical analysis and final identification.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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