Mystery object that washed up on Australian beach could be from old Indian rocket

The Australian Space Agency is currently investigating a peculiar cylindrical object that washed up on a remote beach in Western Australia. The barnacle-encrusted device, approximately the size of a small car, was discovered at Green Head, located about 250 km north of Perth.

The enigmatic cylindrical object that washed ashore has sparked a wave of curiosity and speculation among locals. Eager to document the cosmic visitor, residents couldn't resist the chance for an impromptu photo shoot before the authorities arrived to cordon off the area.

Last friday, people in Australia reported seeing a comet/UFO in the sky which turned out to be the LVM3 rocket that launched #Chandrayaan3.

And now, the third stage of a PSLV rocket has washed ashore on the coast of Green Head, Western Australia! #ISRO pic.twitter.com/FFVwhooSyE

— Debapratim (@debapratim_) July 17, 2023

To unveil the mystery surrounding the object, the Australian Space Agency has been in communication with other international space agencies. Initial assessments indicate that the device may be constructed, in part, from a woven material, leading to speculation that it could be space debris originating from a foreign rocket.

We are currently making enquiries related to this object located on a beach near Jurien Bay in Western Australia.

The object could be from a foreign space launch vehicle and we are liaising with global counterparts who may be able to provide more information.

[More in comments] pic.twitter.com/41cRuhwzZk

— Australian Space Agency (@AusSpaceAgency) July 17, 2023

European Space Agency engineer, Andrea Boyd, has put forward a theory suggesting that the object might be an upper-stage engine from an Indian rocket used in various missions. However, as of now, the Indian Space Research Organization has yet to provide an official statement on the matter.

ALSO READ: What you need to know about ISRO's successful liftoff of Chandrayaan-3

The ISRO has successfully launched 58 missions to space from the Satish Dhawan Space Station in Sriharikota, Andhra Pradesh, which include:

• Polar Satellite Launch Vehicles (PSLV): The PSLV is one of the most reliable launch vehicles of ISRO. It has been operational since 1993 and has had numerous successful launches in the past decade. Up until 2021, the PSLV had conducted more than 50 launches, including both domestic and international payloads.
• Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicles (GSLV): The GSLV is another launch vehicle developed by ISRO. It is designed to place satellites into geostationary orbits. Over the past decade, the GSLV had conducted around 14 launches, including developmental and operational flights.
• Small Satellite Launch Vehicles (SSLV): The SSLV is a smaller launch vehicle developed by ISRO specifically for launching small satellites.
• Launch Vehicle Mark-III (LVM3): The LVM3 is a heavy-lift launch vehicle developed by the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO). It is designed to carry and launch heavier satellites into space, expanding India's capabilities in the field of space exploration and communication. It features advanced technologies and a powerful cryogenic engine in its upper stage, enabling it to deliver payloads weighing up to 4 tons to geostationary transfer orbit (GTO) and up to 10 tons to low Earth orbit (LEO). It serves as a crucial component in ISRO's plans for manned missions, lunar exploration, and interplanetary missions.

Boyd suggested that the parts from an ISRO rocket launch from over 20 years ago based off the amount of barnacles coating the object. 

Some even theorised the debris could have come from a specific mission – PSLV-CA C46 – which launched in May 2019 and dropped some debris in the ocean to Australia’s north-west and south-east.  

Astrophysicist Brad Tucker from the Australian National University has described the object as having a distinct appearance characteristic of space debris. While the Australian authorities initially treated the device as hazardous, a government chemical analysis confirmed its safety, reassuring the community that there is no immediate risk.

As the origin of the object is unknown, the community should avoid handling or attempting to move the object.

If the community spot any further suspected debris they should report it to local authorities and notify the Australian Space Agency via space.monitoring@space.gov.au

— Australian Space Agency (@AusSpaceAgency) July 17, 2023

Early speculation linking the object to the disappearance of Malaysia Airlines flight MH370 in 2014 was swiftly discounted. Aviation expert Geoffrey Thomas dismissed the possibility, stating that the object appears to be a fuel tank from a rocket launched within the past year, ruling out any connection to the Boeing 777 aircraft. Sorry, conspiracy theorists, this is not a plot twist from a long-lost episode of Lost. 

Although the object is now deemed safe, caution is still advised due to the potential presence of hydrazine, a carcinogenic fuel that could be contained within an upper-stage rocket. Bystanders are advised to maintain a distance from the object until it is removed by authorities. You wouldn't want to get too close and accidentally stumble upon a tank full of rocket fuel.

The responsibility for the disposal of the object lies with the entity that launched it into space. The United Nations Office for Outer Space Affairs enforces the Outer Space Treaty, which stipulates that whoever launches an object into space remains responsible for it until its final disposition. Let's hope that whoever is responsible for launching this enigmatic object into space didn't forget to attach a ‘return to sender’ label.

ALSO READ: Chandrayaan-3 set for lift off on July 14: What's new to the moon mission?

While its exact origins remain uncertain, speculation leans towards it being space debris from a foreign rocket launch.