# Metallic Object Found in Minnesota Cornfield Prompts State and Federal Inquiry

> An 11-foot-diameter metallic object, presumed to be from space, was discovered in a western Minnesota cornfield, initiating an investigation by state and federal authorities.

By PrimaryBrief newsroom · Published 2026-10-19T15:20:25.843207Z
Canonical: https://primarybrief.com/article/metallic-object-found-in-minnesota-cornfield-prompts-state-and-federal-inquiry-d0ba56f0

On October 14, 2026, an 11-foot-diameter metallic object was discovered in a cornfield in Scott Township, Stevens County, western Minnesota, after the Stevens County Sheriff's Office received a report of foreign debris [2][3][4][5][7][8]. The Sheriff's Office described the object as "presumably a space object" and began an investigation with state and federal agencies [2][3][4][5][6][7][8].

This discovery brings the reality of space debris directly into a local community, highlighting how objects from orbit can land unexpectedly. Officials have assured the public that the object poses no danger [2][5][6][7][8].

## What the records show

Deputies from the Stevens County Sheriff's Office responded to a call around 3:30 p.m. on October 14, 2026, regarding foreign debris in a field [2][3][4][5]. They found a large metallic object measuring about 11 feet in diameter [2][3][4][5]. The object carries serial numbers, which authorities hope will help identify its origin [3][4][7][8]. Media reports link the debris to a Chinese Zhuque-2E rocket [1]. The U.S. Space Force confirmed that a Zhuque-2E upper stage broke apart in low-Earth orbit on June 17, 2026, as noted in an advisory on Space-Track.org [1][9]. The largest piece from this breakup was estimated to be between 25 and 30 feet long and about 11 feet in diameter, with most fragments predicted to re-enter Earth's atmosphere within months [1].

## The Timeline

The Zhuque-2E upper stage disintegrated in low-Earth orbit on June 17, 2026 [1][9]. A farmer who found the object in Minnesota estimated it had been in the field for approximately six weeks, based on the corn growing beneath it [3][4][7][8]. This suggests the object landed in late August or early September 2026, a timeframe consistent with re-entry forecasts for the Zhuque-2E debris [1][3][4][7][8]. The Stevens County Sheriff's Office received the report of the debris on October 14, 2026 [2].

## What changed and for whom

Following the discovery, the Stevens County Sheriff's Office notified the Minnesota Duty Officer, which led to the involvement of state and federal agencies [2][3][4][5][7][8]. These agencies are now working together to identify the object's owner and arrange for its removal from the cornfield [2][3][4][5][7][8]. Officials have stated that the discovered object poses "no danger to the public" [2][5][6][7][8].

## What the subject has said publicly

The U.S. Space Force confirmed the breakup of a Zhuque-2E upper stage in low-Earth orbit on June 17, 2026, through an advisory on Space-Track.org [1][9]. Separately, Chinese authorities reported a successful launch of a Zhuque-2E Y4 carrier rocket on October 14, 2026, deploying 10 satellites into orbit without any reported re-entry or issues from that mission [1]. Officials involved in the Minnesota investigation have reassured the public that the discovered object presents no danger [2][5][6][7][8].

## What we could not confirm

We could not confirm the precise, officially verified origin of the metallic object found in the cornfield. While media reports suggest it is from a Chinese Zhuque-2E rocket, and the U.S. Space Force confirmed a breakup of such a rocket in June 2026, the Stevens County Sheriff's Office has only described the object as "presumably a space object" and has not definitively confirmed its source [1][2][3][4][5][6][7][8]. The specific details derivable from the object's serial numbers have also not been publicly disclosed [3][4][7][8].

## Evidence cited
1. A Chinese rocket deorbited over Minnesota and left this in a farmer's cornfield (arstechnica.com) — https://arstechnica.com/space/2026/10/a-chinese-rocket-deorbited-over-minnesota-and-left-this-in-a-farmers-cornfield/
2. (October 16 2026) longhorncurrent.com (longhorncurrent.com) — https://longhorncurrent.com/
3. (October 17 2026) krem.com (krem.com) — https://krem.com/
4. (October 17 2026) kiiitv.com (kiiitv.com) — https://kiiitv.com/
5. (October 16 2026) cbsnews.com (cbsnews.com) — https://cbsnews.com/
6. (October 15 2026) bringmethenews.com (bringmethenews.com) — https://bringmethenews.com/
7. (October 17 2026) wthr.com (wthr.com) — https://wthr.com/
8. (October 17 2026) wfmynews2.com (wfmynews2.com) — https://wfmynews2.com/
9. (June 17 2026) fodnews.com (fodnews.com) — https://fodnews.com/
10. (June 16 2026) slashdot.org (slashdot.org) — https://slashdot.org/