Metallic object found in western Minnesota field may have been from Chinese rocket
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A large metallic object discovered in a western Minnesota cornfield earlier this month may have been a remnant of a Chinese rocket.
The bowl-shaped item — about 11 feet across — was found in Stevens County, southwest of Morris. No one was injured when it landed in the field.
The sheriff’s office initially said it appeared to be a piece of space debris, and said it was working with state and federal agencies to identify where it came from.
In an update this week, the sheriff’s office said it wouldn’t be releasing more information — and directed questions to the U.S. State Department.
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Also this week, the technology news site Ars Technica reported that evidence points to the item being part of a Chinese rocket launched on Sept. 15.
That rocket carried several satellites into space and then deorbited, breaking apart over the Midwest. Ars Technica reported that several people captured and shared video of the spectacle in the night sky.
Deorbiting is usually done over the ocean, to minimize the chance of debris that survives reentry causing any injuries or damage.
Ars Technica reported that there was no immediate explanation why this rocket reentered and broke apart over Minnesota and neighboring states. The company that owns the rocket has not confirmed the debris is from that launch.
