A quiet day in rural West Texas turned extraordinary when a large piece of NASA equipment parachuted into a farmer’s wheat field.
The object, about the size of a sport-utility vehicle and marked with NASA stickers, drifted down attached to a huge 30-foot parachute.
Local resident Ann Walter first spotted the strange object moving slowly across the sky before it landed nearby. Unsure what it was, she called the local sheriff’s office, only to discover that NASA was already searching for it.
The equipment came from NASA’s Columbia Scientific Balloon Facility, which launches unmanned research balloons high into the atmosphere. These balloons carry instruments that help scientists study stars, galaxies, and black holes.
Officials explained that the equipment had been launched from Fort Sumner, New Mexico, about 225 kilometres away, and had drifted off course before landing safely in Texas. Due to a government shutdown at the time, NASA was slower than usual in responding to messages.
Sheriff David Cochran confirmed that NASA contacted his office to recover the lost item. Soon after, a team from the balloon facility arrived with a truck and trailer to collect it.
Before it was taken away, Walter and her family took several photos and videos of the unexpected visitor from space science.
That is one fit cat. I dont think i could walk that far. Let a lone a cat!!!
long way for a cat to travel
it was really good and interesting I loved it good job
That’s a long way.
The owners must’ve been scared to lose their cat but in the end the cat was found by a kind person who looked after the cat after walking 1448 km.
Thats pretty amazing! Very fit cat. Surely it didn’t do it all on paw! That’s crazy!
a least the cat got home
That cat must love their family so much to travel 1448 km, by paw!
I want that cat NOW!!!!!!!!
wish i could travel that far
wow cat strong
traveled so long!
they are so cute