A Gift from the Sky: Meteorite falls from space and lands in Muscogee Nation

A fireball crashed through Earth's mesosphere in the early hours of Jan. 20, 2023. 

Pushed by immense pressure, the fireball’s direction was arbitrarily set to North America, eventually landing in Muskogee, Oklahoma. The mysterious phenomenon was soon discovered to be a rare meteorite falling from space. 

During its descent to Earth’s soil, the burning rock broke apart, leaving pieces sprinkled throughout. NASA tracked the meteorite’s journey and determined it had landed in the Muscogee Nation.

Approximately 4 billion years in the making, the meteorite immediately raised local and national attention. Dr. Kat Gardner-Vandy, Oklahoma State University assistant professor of aviation and space and Choctaw citizen, was called in to evaluate the mysterious rock. 

“I study rocks from space,” Gardner-Vandy said. “And I love everything they tell us because these little gifts from the solar system have a huge story.” 

This specific meteorite had a story of its own. Gardner-Vandy soon discovered it was an asteroid and most likely originated at the beginning of the solar system.

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