Authorities in Minnesota are investigating a metallic object, approximately 11 feet in diameter, found in a cornfield that is believed to be space debris. The discovery has drawn multiple federal agencies to the site, though details remain limited.
Discovery in Scott Township
On October 14, 2026, at approximately 3:30 p.m., the Stevens County Sheriff's Office received a phone call about foreign debris found in a cornfield in Scott Township, according to a Facebook post by authorities. Deputies arrived and located the metallic object, which they believe may have originated from space.
Sheriff Jason Dingman confirmed that several agencies are assisting in determining the object's origin. “There are several various agencies assisting in the determination of origin of this object,” Dingman said Friday afternoon. He added that the investigation is ongoing and declined to name the specific federal agencies involved.
Limited Information and Serial Numbers
Dingman noted that authorities are receiving limited information about the object. “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,” he said.
Officials told KARE 11 that serial numbers were visible on the object, which could help investigators trace its manufacturer or owner. Authorities have stated that the discovery poses no danger to the public.
Local Resident's Account
Chokio resident Tena Wilts told the Star Tribune that she saw the object on Thursday while driving to her parents' house, about three miles from the field. She described it as “compared to the trucks, very large.” Wilts recalled recent severe weather and space debris reports. “We had a tornado through the area a few weeks ago, so that came to mind. You hear about space garbage, too, so that comes to mind,” she said.
Space debris, as defined by NASA, includes defunct satellites, spent rocket stages, and fragments from spacecraft breakups or collisions. Some objects eventually fall back to Earth as their orbits decay. Investigators have not publicly linked the Minnesota object to a specific satellite, rocket, or launch.
