Kenyan village startled by falling space debris, no injuries reported
A metal ring with a diameter of 2.4 metres and a weight exceeding 450 kilograms fell on the village of Mukuku in Makueni County, Kenya. The event was accompanied by a loud bang, causing confusion among the residents.
Photos of the crumpled and scorched piece of metal quickly circulated on social media. The noise was audible from as far away as 48 kilometres. The Kenyan police assured that no one was injured and that the object did not pose a threat to the residents' safety.
The Kenyan Space Agency (KSA) explained on Wednesday that the object is likely a separation ring from a launch vehicle. Such components usually burn up in the atmosphere or fall into uninhabited areas like oceans.
However, space debris does not always land in remote places. In 2022, remnants of a SpaceX Dragon capsule fell on an Australian sheep farm. In January 2024, a piece of metal destroyed a house in Florida, and in March another object destroyed a house in Naples, Italy.
The Kenyan Space Agency emphasizes that this is an isolated incident and poses no threat to public safety. The object did not cause any damage, and its origin is currently being investigated by experts.
