Suspected space debris discovered near an iron ore mine in remote Western Australia has been linked to a Chinese rocket launch, as authorities intensify efforts to determine the object’s origin. The smoking piece of debris was found on Saturday, approximately 30 kilometers east of Newman, on a BHP mine access track.
The Australian Transport Safety Bureau and Western Australia Police are conducting investigations. However, Flinders University space archaeologist Dr. Alice Gorman has suggested that the debris likely originated from the fourth stage of a Chinese rocket known as Jielong.
“The last launch was late September, so this has been barrelling around the earth and quite suddenly has got pulled back to the atmosphere,” Dr. Gorman told ABC Radio Perth.
Understanding Space Debris
Dr. Gorman explained that during a spacecraft’s orbit, it discards several rockets and tanks, which fall back to Earth to shed weight. The planet is littered with these empty rocket fuel tanks, which can withstand high temperatures and do not burn up upon re-entry into the Earth’s atmosphere.
“They’re so common they’re called space balls,” she noted. “People often find them years later. So this one’s a bit unusual because it was found pretty quickly.”
The Australian Space Agency (ASA) stated that the debris is “likely” a propellant tank or pressure vessel from a space launch vehicle. The agency is collaborating with international counterparts to pinpoint the debris’ exact nature and origin.
Investigative Process and International Protocol
WA Police Superintendent Les Andrews highlighted that the investigation could take weeks or months, with the debris remaining at the Pilbara mine site in the interim. He emphasized that no specific nation is implicated at this stage, despite speculation linking the debris to a Chinese rocket.
“There are thousands and thousands of satellites up in the sky in orbit… it’s certainly not something that we’re looking at in regards to country of origin, because there’s so many of them [satellites]. It’s not really relevant,” he said.
Previously, the discovery of space debris in Green Head, approximately 250 kilometers north of Perth, garnered international attention. The object, identified by the ASA as part of an Indian rocket, was later exhibited at the Scitech science discovery center in West Perth.
Risks and Responsibilities of Space Debris
Most space debris is deliberately discarded in a spacecraft graveyard known as Point Nemo, a remote area in the south-west Pacific Ocean. Dr. Gorman indicated that the recent discovery likely resulted from an “uncontrolled re-entry.” Although such re-entries pose risks, the probability of space debris impacting people or property remains low.
“There were two cases in America in the 70s,” Perth Observatory tour administrator Matt Woods recalled. “Someone was sleeping and the meteorite actually went through the roof and hit her on the thigh. So she had a massive big bruise. And then something hit the back fender of a car as well.”
Dr. Gorman warned that space traffic is becoming increasingly congested, heightening the risk of space debris affecting civilization. She mentioned that Qantas has expressed concerns about insufficient notice of rocket launches and re-entries.
International Response and Cleanup
If the debris is identified as belonging to a foreign government, Dr. Gorman stated that it would be that government’s responsibility to retrieve it. However, past incidents have not always followed this protocol.
“There was a piece of an Indian rocket that washed up on a beach [overseas],” she said. “So the Indian government kind of said, ‘It’s okay, you can keep it.’ I mean there’s nothing exciting about a fuel tank but you don’t know… so the space agency [might] have to engage in a government-to-government negotiation.”
WA Police is expected to provide an update on the investigation later today, as the international community watches closely to see how this incident will be resolved.
