Metallic object believed to be space debris found in Minnesota field

Summarised from 2 outlets · Updated 20 Oct, 04:20 · Archive

Agents investigated a metallic object approximately 11 feet in diameter found in a Minnesota cornfield that authorities believe may be space debris.

Agents rushed to a cornfield in Stevens County, Minnesota, after farmers reported finding a mysterious metallic object approximately 11 feet in diameter on 14 October at around 3.30pm. The object appeared scorched along its underside and bore visible serial numbers that may help investigators trace its origin.

Authorities believe the object may be space debris and have launched an investigation involving several federal agencies. Sheriff Jason Dingman said he could not name which agencies were involved because the matter was ongoing. He noted that investigators were receiving limited information: 'We're not getting fed much information either and what info we do get is pretty cryptic. So I think somebody way up the food chain above my head knows what this thing is but they are not even telling us.' Officials told local media that the discovery posed no danger to the public.

Space debris includes defunct satellites, spent rocket stages and fragments from spacecraft breakups or collisions. Objects in orbit eventually fall back to Earth as their orbits decay. A resident of nearby Chokio said she saw the object on Thursday while driving three miles away from the field and described it as very large in comparison to trucks.

How it is being reported

• 'Foreign object from space' crashes into Minnesota field as agents race to siteAuthorities say they have found a metallic object approximately 11 feet in diameter that they believe may be space debrisThe Mirror · 19 Oct, 21:00
• Agents race to Minnesota crash site as 'foreign' object from space is found in cropsBlack vehicles raced to a cornfield in Minnesota after farmers reported a mysterious object on their land. The 11-foot object appeared scorched along its underside.Daily Mail · 19 Oct, 16:03

In this story: Minnesota · Stevens County · Jason Dingman · Scott Township · Chokio · NASA

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