Kenya’s Space Agency (KSA) said the object was a massive metallic ring measuring approximately 2.5 metres wide and weighing 500 kilograms.
ADVERTISEMENTA large metallic ring that fell from the skies and crashed into a village in southern Kenya this week is space debris from a launch rocket, according to the country’s space agency.
The object — weighing 500 kilograms and measuring approximately 2.5 metres wide — landed in Mukuku village, located southeast of the capital Nairobi, on Monday afternoon, said Kenya’s Space Agency (KSA). Local residents described the ring as “red and hot”.
Preliminary assessments indicate the object is a separation ring from a launch rocket, according to the agency, which said space debris normally tends to burn up before entering the Earth’s atmosphere or fall over unoccupied areas, such as the sea.
“This is an isolated case, which the agency will investigate and address using the established framework under the International Space Law,” the KSA said in a statement.
“Our experts will analyse the object, use existing frameworks to identify the owner, and keep the public informed of the next steps and outcomes.”
One local resident, Joseph Mutua, told Kenya’s NTV news channel that he had been tending to his cow when he heard a loud bang.
“We didn’t know if it was a bomb or whatever it was and it fell here,” he said. “If the object fell on a homestead, it would have been catastrophic.”
KSA officials rushed to the scene on Tuesday to secure the area and retrieve the debris.
Kenya’s national broadcaster — the Kenya Broadcasting Corporation — showed footage of police tape covering the ring, which was sitting among some trees and brush.
Major Aloyce Were of the KSA said earlier this week that officials were assessing the extent of the damage to the village, its residents and their animals.
Space debris is a growing concern for space agencies and countries worldwide due to the increase in satellites.
A UN panel space traffic coordination in October said that urgent action was needed to track and manage objects in low Earth orbit, where the European Space Agency estimated last year that there were more than 14,000 tonnes of material present.
