An investigation was launched on Wednesday by Kenyan authorities after a metallic ring fell on December 30 at around 3 p.m. local time in the village of Mukuku, located in Makueni County. The object, which measures nearly 2.5 meters in diameter and weighs approximately 500 kg, was reported by the Kenyan Space Agency (KSA).
The KSA, with the assistance of other agencies and local authorities, “secured the area and recovered the debris.” It is “currently being held by the Agency for further investigation,” the KSA added.
“Preliminary findings indicate that the object that fell is a separation ring from a launcher (rocket),” designed either to burn up upon re-entry into Earth’s atmosphere or to land in uninhabited areas, the KSA continued in a statement.
The incident “is an isolated case that the Agency will investigate,” it said. The KSA is also working to identify the owner of the object, which it assured does not pose a threat to public safety.
Debris Already Found in the United States and Australia
Human-made space debris discoveries have already occurred, such as in 2022, when part of a SpaceX Dragon capsule, founded by Elon Musk, landed on a farm in Australia.
Last year, an American family whose home in Florida was struck by a piece of metal filed a lawsuit against NASA.
