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Burning object found in the Australian Pilbara Desert
"Falled from space"... Burning object found in the Australian desert
Australian authorities are investigating a mysterious burning object found in the remote Pilbara Desert, believed to be remnants of space debris that fell from space.
According to details reported by Science Alert, workers at a mine in Western Australia alerted emergency services on October 18 after noticing the burning object on a deserted desert road about 30 kilometers from the mining town of New Man. Rescue teams immediately rushed to the site, and a joint investigation was launched between Western Australian Police, the Australian Space Agency, and the Department of Fire and Emergency Services.
China's Jiaoling Rocket
Although the origin of the object has not yet been confirmed, initial analyses suggest it is part of a spacecraft. Australian space archaeologist Alice Gorman told The Guardian that the debris could be the fourth stage of the Chinese Jiaoling rocket, which launched last September.
Police stated in a Facebook statement that the object is likely made of carbon fiber, consistent with materials used in spacecraft, such as fuel tanks or composite vessels used to store high-pressure liquids. The Australian Transport Safety Board confirmed that the object is not associated with any civilian aircraft. Police added that the object was still smoking when it was found, but it has now been secured and poses no threat to public safety.
The identity of the vehicle from which the object fell is still under investigation, but the results are expected to be announced in the coming days. Space debris falling to Earth is a rare occurrence. Most spacecraft are designed to disintegrate during atmospheric reentry, and controlled reentries are performed to reduce the risk of large pieces falling. Since most of the Earth's surface is covered with water, any large pieces often end up in the oceans rather than on land.
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