Residents of the Makueni region, in southern Kenya, experienced tense moments when a metal ring weighing half a ton and 2.5 meters in diameter fell from the sky, causing a loud bang. Despite the impact, there were no injuries or material damage.
The Kenya Space Agency (KSA) suspects that the object is a separation ring from a space launch vehicle. In a statement released on the social network
Following the discovery of a metallic fragment of a space object in Mukuku Village, Makueni County, the Kenya Space Agency has issued the following statement. Read more for details on the incident, preliminary findings, and next steps.
— Kenya Space Agency (@SpaceAgencyKE)
This incident highlights the growing problem of space debris. The KSA warned of the risk that these remains pose, generally falling in uninhabited areas, but occasionally reaching populated areas.
The fall of this metallic ring reignites the debate about international responsibility in the management of waste from space exploration and the need to prevent possible tragedies.
A 500-kilogram metallic object recently fell in Mukuku village in Kenya’s Makueni County.
Kenya’s Space Agency says the object is likely a separation ring from a rocket’s launch vehicle and does not pose any threat to safety.
— Al Jazeera English (@AJEnglish)
