<
https://theconversation.com/how-does-a-flaming-piece-of-space-junk-end-up-on-earth-a-space-archaeologist-explains-267856>
"The mysterious object was on fire and lying in the middle of a remote dirt
road in Western Australia’s Pilbara region when mine workers stumbled upon it.
Shortly after the enigmatic item was found on October 18, Western Australia
police announced that initial assessments indicated it was made of carbon fibre
and “consistent with previously identified space debris”.
The object appears to have come from a Chinese Jielong-3 rocket – possibly the
one launched in September which deployed 12 satellites in low Earth orbit.
The object’s suspected identity was corroborated by expert debris watchers, who
noted the orbital path of the rocket’s fourth stage passed over Western
Australia at a time consistent with the debris’ discovery.
The Australian Space Agency told
The Conversation the debris is “likely a
propellant tank or pressure vessel from a space launch vehicle” and that it
will conduct further technical analysis to confirm its origin.
Regardless, the object’s fall to Earth highlights the growing problem of space
junk – and how humanity is dealing with it."
Cheers,
*** Xanni ***
--
mailto:xanni@xanadu.net Andrew Pam
http://xanadu.com.au/ Chief Scientist, Xanadu
https://glasswings.com.au/ Partner, Glass Wings
https://sericyb.com.au/ Manager, Serious Cybernetics
