A YouTuber’s attempt to sell a meteorite to NASA turned into an awkward security incident in Washington, D.C., after federal staff grew suspicious of his actions outside the agency’s headquarters.
Sindri Levi, a content creator known for high-risk challenge videos, traveled to the U.S. capital earlier this year hoping to sell a rock he believed came from space. The stone was found weeks earlier during a desert search in California and Nevada, where Levi teamed up with veteran meteorite hunter Roberto. Their goal was simple. Find a real meteorite and sell it to NASA for a large payout.
The search took place in dry desert regions known among hobbyists for preserving space rocks. Levi documented days of walking under extreme heat with basic tools like magnetic rods and a low-cost metal detector. At one point, the trip nearly ended after Levi noticed what looked like an unexploded military device buried in the ground. They left the area unharmed and continued searching.
Roberto later identified a dark, dense rock that showed signs consistent with known meteorites. After checking its interior by grinding a small section, the pair concluded it likely came from early solar debris. Levi then flew to Washington, convinced NASA would want it.
That plan failed almost immediately. Levi arrived without an appointment and could not reach scientists inside the building. Thinking quickly, he tried to sell the meteorite to NASA employees outside the entrance, first as a joke and then for as little as five dollars. The approach made staff uneasy. Several worried that taking the rock could violate workplace rules.
One employee returned with a security guard. Levi’s camera gear and oversized clothing raised further concern. Guards questioned whether he was secretly recording audio or acting on behalf of a foreign group. Levi later said the reaction surprised him, though security cleared him after a brief discussion.
NASA declined involvement, and Levi left without a sale. Instead of keeping the meteorite, he walked to the National Air and Space Museum and gave it to a young visitor who showed interest in space science.