A Minnesota farmer made an unusual discovery while harvesting a cornfield: an enormous metallic object that officials believe came from space.
The object, which measures approximately 11 feet in diameter, was discovered in Scott Township in Stevens County, Minnesota. Federal agencies were notified after the discovery, and authorities have been working to determine where the object came from.
Now, experts believe they may have an answer.
What Was Found in the Minnesota Cornfield?
The large metallic object was discovered in a rural Minnesota cornfield last week as a farmer was harvesting the crop.
According to NewsNation, the farmer estimated the object had been sitting in the field for approximately six weeks. Officials also found serial numbers on the object, which could help determine its origin.
The Stevens County Sheriff’s Office described the object as “presumably a space object” after deputies responded to a report of foreign debris in the field.
The object is approximately 11 feet in diameter and showed signs of charring, further suggesting that it had passed through Earth’s atmosphere. State and federal agencies were notified and began working to identify the object and determine who owns it.
Officials have said there is no danger to the public.
Where Did the Space Debris Come From?
The object’s origin has not been officially confirmed by the Stevens County Sheriff’s Office, but an analysis by Ars Technica points to a possible connection to a Chinese rocket.
The object appears to match the size of the upper stage of a Chinese Zhuque-2E rocket launched on September 15. The rocket, built by Chinese company LandSpace, carried 10 satellites into orbit before its upper stage was intentionally sent back toward Earth.
According to Ars Technica, the upper stage measured approximately 11 feet in diameter — an unusually close match to the object discovered in Minnesota. The rocket’s trajectory also provides a possible explanation. After launching from China, the rocket traveled south before eventually passing north over the Americas.
Experts were able to connect the September launch with reports of fiery debris seen crossing the sky over parts of the United States. LandSpace has not publicly acknowledged that a piece of its rocket landed in Minnesota.
Why Did a Piece of a Rocket Land in Minnesota?
Rocket stages are regularly disposed of after completing their missions, but the goal is generally to control where they reenter Earth’s atmosphere.
In this case, the evidence suggests the Zhuque-2E upper stage may have been directed toward reentry over the United States after completing its mission.
The upper stage is believed to have performed a burn intended to lower its orbit. However, Ars Technica reports that the resulting trajectory may have brought debris down over the American Midwest rather than a remote area over the ocean.
Most space debris burns up during atmospheric reentry. Larger pieces, however, can survive and reach the ground. The 11-foot object found in Minnesota appears to be one of those pieces.
How Rare Is It for Space Debris to Reach the Ground?
Objects regularly reenter Earth’s atmosphere, including old satellites, rocket stages and other pieces of human-made equipment. Most of that material burns up before reaching the surface, meaning relatively few large pieces make it all the way to the ground.
For now, authorities have not reported any injuries or property damage connected to the object. And while the evidence increasingly points toward the Chinese Zhuque-2E rocket, officials have not publicly confirmed that identification.
