A large metallic ring crashed into a village in Kenya’s Makueni county on December 30, sparking curiosity among locals and space enthusiasts alike. The object, estimated to be around 8 feet in diameter and weighing approximately 1,100 pounds, fell from the sky at roughly 3 pm local time.
Kenya’s Space Agency (KSA) has secured the area and retrieved the debris, which is now under their custody for further investigation. However, experts are divided on its origins. Some believe it may be a piece of space debris, while others think it could be from an airplane.
Jonathan McDowell, a sky watching veteran, says he’s not convinced it’s a piece of space debris due to the lack of reentry heating. On the other hand, Darren McKnight, a space debris expert, suggests that incoming space debris can sometimes stay covered by a “sacrificial mass” before burning up.
An early review of the Aerospace Corporation’s database suggested a possible link to an Atlas Centaur rocket launch in 2004. The object was predicted to reenter on December 30, but its actual flight path remains unclear. The KSA is expected to provide further official assessment soon.
As experts continue to analyze the debris, they’re looking for any clues that might reveal its origins. While no definitive conclusion has been reached yet, the investigation into this mysterious space debris crash is ongoing.
Source: https://www.space.com/space-exploration/satellites/space-debris-crashes-into-kenyan-village-believed-to-be-leftover-rocket-hardware