Mysterious Space Debris Washes Up on a Western Australia Beach

Australia Baffled by Mysterious Space Debris Washing Ashore

Local Excitement and Speculation

The discovery of a copper-colored cylinder, approximately 10 feet wide, on a beach in Green Head, Australia has sparked a flurry of excitement and speculation about its origin. Local residents have flocked to the beach, eager to catch a glimpse of this unidentified object. Online, theories have been circulating about where it might have come from.

Police Identify Space Junk

On Tuesday, the Western Australia Police Force revealed that the mysterious object is believed to be space debris. This conclusion aligns with comments from the Australian Space Agency, which had been working on the same hypothesis. Initially cautious, the police had cordoned off the area around the object and warned locals to keep their distance. However, a subsequent analysis by the Department of Fire and Emergency Service and Chemistry Centre has deemed the object safe and poses no current risk to the community.

A Likely Explanation

According to Alice Gorman, a space archaeologist from Flinders University, the cylinder is likely the third phase of a polar satellite launch vehicle previously launched by India. Gorman pointed out that it matches the dimensions and materials used in India’s launch vehicles since 2010. Space rockets are multi-stage, with different compartments carrying fuel, which are sequentially discarded as the propellant runs out. Some of this debris falls back to Earth. The presence of barnacles on the object suggests that it has spent a considerable amount of time at sea before washing ashore. Gorman speculates that it may have landed in the ocean five to ten years ago and was recently pushed to the shore by a deep sea storm.

Potential Risks and Caution

While the object has been deemed safe by the authorities, Gorman advises caution. The cylinder runs on solid fuel, which only releases toxic substances under high temperatures. As a general rule, it is best to avoid touching space debris unless necessary. The Australian Space Agency has urged people to report any further discoveries of suspected debris.

International Cooperation

The Australian Space Agency has been in contact with global counterparts to gather more information about the object’s origin. Foreign space launch vehicles are being considered as a potential source, and ongoing discussions are taking place between relevant agencies to safely remove and store the object.