A large metal ring fell from the sky and crashed into a village in Kenya. According to preliminary estimates, the fallen space debris may have come from a rocket, and the fragments survived re-entry into the Earth’s atmosphere.
The Kenyan Space Agency is investigating an incident involving metal fragments that fell on Mukuku village in Makueni County on Monday at 7 a.m. EST, the report said. No injuries were reported, but the incident raises concerns about the growing threat of space debris falling on populated areas.
According to the Kenyan Space Agency, the metal ring is about 8 feet (2.5 meters) wide and weighs about 1,100 pounds (500 kilograms). The object is believed to be a splitter ring, a component used to connect the payload to the rocket during launch, ensuring it is placed in orbit before the ring falls back to Earth.
Separation rings are typically designed to burn up upon re-entry into the Earth’s atmosphere. However, this appears to have survived the heat. The type of rocket is yet to be determined.
The Kenyan Space Agency secured the area and seized the metal ring, which is now in the agency’s custody for further investigation. “We wish to assure the public that the object does not pose an immediate security threat,” the Kenya Space Agency wrote. “Our experts will analyze the object, use the available database to identify the owner and inform the public about the next steps and results.”
The incident in Kenya is the latest in a series of space debris falling on populated areas. In March 2023, a two-kilogram cylindrical object broke through the roof of a house in Florida. The object was identified as a piece of a massive pallet of old batteries that NASA ejected from the International Space Station in March 2021, sending it flying through the Earth’s atmosphere.
The risk of space debris falling is indicative of the growth of the space industry as access to orbit becomes more affordable for space agencies and private companies. A 2022 study predicts a 10% chance of one or more casualties from falling rocket parts in the next decade.
Currently, regulators lack enforcement mechanisms to properly dispose of rocket parts and inoperable spacecraft through controlled reentry, which can send space debris to remote areas. The recent incident underscores the need for stricter laws on orbital traffic to protect people and property on the ground.
