On Monday afternoon in the Kenyan village of Mukuku, a large, red-hot object fell from the sky and landed in a wooded area.
Local residents, who witnessed the extraordinary event, shared their accounts with the country’s national broadcaster.
The Kenya Space Agency (KSA) launched an investigation into the incident, confirming by Wednesday that the object was indeed a “fragment of a space object.”
According to the agency, the metallic ring measures approximately 2.5 meters (8 feet) in diameter and weighs around 500 kg (1,100 pounds).
In a statement, the KSA clarified, “The Agency wishes to clarify that the object, a metallic ring measuring approximately 2.5 meters in diameter and weighing about 500 kg, is a fragment of a space object.”
Initial investigations suggest that the object is likely a separation ring from a rocket, a theory supported by the KSA’s observation that space debris typically falls into the ocean or burns up before entering the Earth’s atmosphere.
Mbooni Sub County Police Commander, Julius Rotich, recounted the scene to the Kenya Broadcasting Corporation, stating that the object was still emitting intense heat when police arrived on Monday.
As a precautionary measure, the area was cordoned off until the object cooled down. Images from the scene show police tape surrounding the ring, which had landed in trees and brush, with curious residents gathering nearby.
The KSA is continuing to analyze the object and is working to trace its origin, although the investigation remains ongoing.
