A large, red-hot object on Monday afternoon descended from the sky and landed in the Kenyan village of Mukuku, according to reports from local residents shared by the country’s national broadcaster.
The incident has prompted an immediate inquiry by the Kenya Space Agency.
By Wednesday, the KSA confirmed that the object was a “fragment of a space object.”
The agency reported that the metallic ring, which measures about 2.5 meters (8 feet) in diameter and weighs approximately 500 kg (1,100 pounds), had been retrieved for further analysis.
“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,” the KSA stated in its release.
Initial investigations suggest that the object is likely a separation ring from a rocket. The KSA noted that space debris typically falls into the ocean or burns up before entering the Earth’s atmosphere, making this event an unusual occurrence.
The Mbooni Sub County Police Commander, Julius Rotich, shared with the Kenya Broadcasting Corporation that the object was still hot when police arrived on Monday, necessitating the cordoning off of the area until it cooled down.
Images showed 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, though the investigation remains ongoing.
