4IntermediateGeneralScience

Space Rock Crashes Through a Family Home in Texas

A family in Houston, Texas got a big surprise when a possible meteorite crashed through their roof. The space rock tore through two floors and landed in the kitchen. Officials are now studying the object to learn where it came from.

1 min readLevel 4March 23, 2026

By Flalingo Editorial Team

Vocabulary

Study these words before reading the article. Click the audio button to hear pronunciation.

meteorite

/ˈmiːtiəraɪt/

noun

A rock from space that has fallen to the surface of the Earth

“Scientists found a small meteorite in the desert last year.”

crashed

/kræʃt/

verb

Hit something hard and suddenly, often causing damage

“The ball crashed through the window and broke it.”

pressure

/ˈpreʃər/

noun

A strong force that pushes against something

“The pressure from the wind made it hard to open the door.”

resembled

/rɪˈzembld/

verb

Looked or sounded similar to something else

“The cloud resembled a large white bird in the sky.”

confirmed

/kənˈfɜːrmd/

verb

Said that something is definitely true or correct

“The doctor confirmed that he was in good health.”

trajectory

/trəˈdʒektəri/

noun

The path that a moving object follows through the air or space

“Scientists tracked the trajectory of the rocket after it launched.”

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Article

Click on any underlined word to see its definition. Highlighted words are from the vocabulary section.

A family in Texas had a shocking experience last Saturday night. A possible meteorite crashed into their home in north Houston. The object tore through the roof and two floors. It finally landed in the kitchen. The rock is slightly larger than a human hand.

NASA has shared important details about the meteor. It originally weighed about one ton and was three feet wide. It was traveling southeast at 35,000 miles per hour. The meteor first appeared 49 miles above Stagecoach, Texas. It then broke apart 29 miles above another town.

When the meteor broke apart, it created a huge pressure wave. Local residents reported hearing a low, rumbling sound. The sound resembled thunder, but the skies were completely clear. Ponderosa Fire Chief Fred Windisch confirmed the damage. He told CBS News the object appears to be a meteorite.

This event happened during a busy week for space activity. A much larger asteroid had passed over several U.S. states recently. That asteroid weighed about seven tons and traveled at 45,000 mph. Events like these remind us that space objects can reach Earth. Scientists must continue to watch the skies carefully.

Comprehension Quiz

Test your understanding of the article with these multiple-choice questions.

1
Where did the meteorite finally stop inside the house?
2
How fast was the meteor traveling?
3
What did the sound from the meteor resemble?
4
How much did the original meteor weigh according to NASA?
5
Who confirmed that the object appears to be a meteorite?

Discussion

Answer these comprehension questions about the article.

1
Where did the possible meteorite land inside the house?
2
How fast was the meteor traveling according to NASA?
3
What sound did local residents hear when the meteor broke apart?
4
How big was the object that was found in the home?
5
What other space event happened during the same week?

Further Discussion

Share your opinions on these open-ended questions.

1
What would you do if a meteorite crashed into your home?
2
Have you ever seen something unusual fall from the sky?
3
Do you think governments should spend more money on watching space objects?
4
How would you feel if you heard a loud boom from the sky?
5
Would you want to keep a meteorite if one landed near your home?