A Texas woman may have some explaining to do to her friends after an extraordinary discovery on her property. Ann Vincent Walter, who lives on a farm in Hale County, north of Lubbock, was alerted by her son one afternoon when he burst into the house shouting, “Hurry and come here!”
When Walter stepped outside, she was met with a startling sight: a large, unidentified object attached to a parachute had landed on her farm, according to KHOU-TV.
The unexpected arrival left her grappling with the reality of what had touched down in her yard — a discovery that would soon reveal itself to be far more remarkable than anyone could have anticipated.
Following protocol, Ann Vincent Walter contacted local authorities to report the unusual object that had landed on her Hale County farm. By coincidence, law enforcement had just been in touch with someone missing equipment that matched the description of what Walter had found.
When she called the Hale County Sheriff’s Department, she learned that NASA representatives had been actively searching for the wayward equipment.
“I was blown away by the comment,” Walter said.
Now, when she tells the story to friends, Walter has photos and a KHOU-TV video to back up her account, proving that this incredible encounter was anything but fictional.
Even if some remain skeptical, Ann Vincent Walter took valuable insight from the unusual experience.
“A researcher working for NASA called and told her that the tool was launched from Fort Sumner, New Mexico, but the West Texas wind blew it off course,” KHOU reported. “He explained that he’s with the Columbia Scientific Balloon Team and they launch, track, and recover experiments for NASA and universities around the world.”
“He said this tool helps guide telescopes to more accurately and clearly capture the stars, galaxies and black holes.”
While training for a new job, Ann Vincent Walter didn’t want to miss the clean-up. She asked her supervisors for permission to be late, and they agreed.
“They gladly let me go so I could see the equipment and experience this once-in-a-lifetime situation,” she said. “What a cool memory and experience.”