See mysterious debris (possibly from space) found in Australia
Burning space “junk” was found at rural mining site in Australia, and the Australian Transport Safety Bureau says it’s not from a commercial aircraft.
What appears to be space debris was found in rural Australia, but don’t fret, this is not the beginning of an alien invasion or something out of a sci-fi movie.
On Saturday, Oct. 18, at around 2 p.m. local time, personnel from a mine site alerted emergency services after they found an object burning near a remote access road, according to the Western Australia Police Force. The object is believed to be space debris that re-entered the atmosphere, commonly referred to as space “junk.”
A video posted to the police force’s Facebook page shows the burnt object on the ground as officers wearing personal protective equipment investigated.
“Initial assessments indicate the item was made of carbon fibre and may be a composite-overwrapped pressure vessel or rocket tank, consistent with aerospace components,” the Western Australia Police Force said in a post on Facebook.
The object has also been ruled out as originating from a commercial aircraft, according to the Australian Transport Safety Bureau.
Object still under investigation
The object, which has characteristics consistent with space re-entry debris, is under investigation. Engineers from the Australian Space Agency will conduct further assessments and assist in identifying the object to determine its origin.
The Western Australia Police Force, which is the “designated Hazard Management Agency for space debris re-entry in Western Australia,” is working closely with the mine operator, Australian Space Agency, Australia’s Department of Fire and Emergency Services and other relevant parties through the investigation.
At this time, the object does not pose a threat to public safety, and an investigation is ongoing.
What is space junk?
Space junk is man-made material left behind in space, according to the Natural History Museum in London.
There are around 34,000 pieces of space junk larger than 4 inches and around 128 million pieces that are larger than 1 millimeter, according to the museum. Around 3,000 dead satellites also litter space.
Space junk can pose a threat to satellites orbiting around Earth, but collisions are rare. To clear up space junk, the United Nations has requested that companies remove their satellites from orbit within 25 years after their missions end.
Julia is a Trending reporter for USA TODAY and covers scientific studies and trending news. Connect with her on LinkedIn, X, Instagram, and TikTok: @juliamariegz, or email her at jgomez@gannett.com