Massive Space Debris Crashes in Kenyan Village, Residents Shocked

KEKenya|

A large metallic object, suspected to be space debris, crashed in the village of Mukuku, located in Makueni County, Kenya, on Monday. The Kenyan Space Agency reported that the object, measuring approximately 2.5 meters in diameter and weighing around 500 kilograms, is likely a fragment from a rocket.

Witnesses in the village were taken aback by the loud noise associated with the crash. Local resident Joseph Mutua recounted hearing a significant bang while tending to his livestock, initially thinking it might be a vehicle accident. He expressed concerns about the potential catastrophic impact had the debris landed on a home.

Authorities reported that the object was still hot when police arrived at the scene, prompting them to cordon off the area until it cooled down. The Kenya Space Agency noted that such incidents are rare, emphasizing that objects like these are typically designed to either burn up upon re-entry or land in uninhabited areas.

Space debris is increasingly becoming a global concern, with the European Space Agency estimating over 13,000 tons of material classified as junk orbiting the Earth. As space traffic grows, so does the potential for similar incidents. The Kenyan authorities are currently investigating the debris under international space law to ascertain its origin.

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