Space and Physics
PUBLISHED
The Australian Space Agency has issued a warning to the Queensland authorities, after a six metal spheres appeared in the Forrest Beach area of Townsville.
The rest of this article is behind a paywall. Please sign in or subscribe to access the full content.On Friday afternoon, people in the area contacted the Queensland authorities to report unusual objects seemingly washed up on the beach. After a search that day, three metal orbs were found along the coast, before three more were found over the weekend, bringing the total up to six.
The police were initially concerned that the spheres may contain dangerous chemicals, sending emergency crews in hazmat suits and erecting 50‑meter (160 feet) exclusion zones around each of the objects.
While there is still a little doubt about the nature of the spheres – with one space junk expert suggesting it is possible that they may be of a marine origin – experts and the Australian Space Agency say that they are likely "space balls".
"The Australian Space Agency is advising Queensland authorities and the National Emergency Management Agency following the discovery of several unidentified objects at Forrest Beach," the Australian Space Agency said in a statement posted to Facebook.
"The recovered objects appear to be pressure vessels from a space launch vehicle. The Agency has identified the likely source. The objects’ location and characteristics are consistent with debris from a foreign rocket body that recently re-entered the atmosphere from orbit. The Agency is continuing to engage with international authorities to formally confirm the launch vehicle and launching state."
These objects are assumed to be debris from a rocket launch, and come with a particularly stupid name.
“They look to be consistent with what you find as part of a fuel system. They are pressurised fuel vessels made of titanium alloys with a very high melting point," space archaeologist and space junk expert, Associate Professor Alice Gorman of Flinders University told The Guardian.
“They’re actually known as space balls and they can be found years after a launch. It is perhaps not something that anyone would have seen [landing].”
Reviewing images of the orbs and unable to find evidence of scorch marks, Gorman suggested that the objects likely came from a first or second stage of a launch, making them space balls that didn't quite make it to space. According to Gorman, they are likely made of titanium alloys for their high melting points, and were used as part of a fuel system, though a marine origin is also possible.
While most space debris winds up in the oceans, some of it can end up on land and, in this case, along the coast of Australia. The space agency has not updated the public on what was found within the spheres, but rocket fuel – and in particular hydrazine – can be pretty harmful to anything other than a rocket.
“It’s a toxic chemical," Matt Richardson, Space Program Director at the University of Southern Queensland, explained to 7 News. "It’s also suspected to be carcinogenic, so it’s pretty nasty stuff."
The Australian authorities warn that more could be found in the coming days, and advise locals to leave them well alone if they do so.
"Queensland emergency responders have assessed and recovered the objects and determined them to be safe," the Australian Space Agency added.
"Further debris may be found. Never touch, move or recover suspected space debris and assume it to be hazardous until advised otherwise. Move away and contact emergency services."
That's pretty good advice for all mystery orbs, to be honest.
