A significant piece of burning debris discovered in the Pilbara desert of Western Australia is believed to be space junk that has reentered the Earth”s atmosphere, according to the Western Australia Police Force. On October 18, mine workers reported the unusual object found on a remote access road approximately 30 kilometers from the mining town of Newman.
A multi-agency investigation is currently in progress involving the police force, the Australian Space Agency, and the Department of Fire and Emergency Services. While a definitive identification has yet to be established, preliminary evaluations suggest the object is likely part of a spacecraft.
Alice Gorman, an Australian space archaeologist, speculated in an interview with The Guardian that the debris might be “the fourth stage of a Jieling rocket” that was launched by China in September. The police force”s statement on Facebook indicated that initial assessments reveal the object is composed of carbon fiber, which is consistent with previously identified space debris, including composite-overwrapped pressure vessels or rocket tanks.
The Australian Transport Safety Bureau has dismissed any link between the object and commercial aircraft. Composite-overwrapped pressure vessels are typically used in spacecraft to hold high-pressure fluids.
Recovering space debris is an uncommon occurrence, largely due to various safety measures that are in place to prevent orbiting technology from descending to the ground. These measures include planned controlled re-entries for outdated spacecraft and utilizing materials that incinerate upon atmospheric re-entry to minimize the risk of larger pieces impacting the Earth”s surface.
Given that much of the Earth”s surface is covered by water, any sizable debris that makes it to the surface is more likely to land in the ocean rather than on land. In fact, a substantial piece of debris from a spacecraft that fell into the ocean washed ashore on a beach in Western Australia earlier this year.
Individuals who suspect they have found space debris in Australia are advised by the Australian Space Agency not to touch the object, as it may contain hazardous materials. Instead, they should contact local emergency services, who will evaluate the item and investigate its origin.
While the exact spacecraft associated with this debris remains unidentified, authorities have secured the object, and there is currently no threat to public safety, as stated by the Western Australia Police Force.
