500-Kilogram Rocket Debris Falls in Mukuku Village, Kenya

Jan 1, 2025, 10:29 AM

A 500-kilogram metallic object, identified as a separation ring from a rocket, fell from the sky and landed in Mukuku Village, Makueni County, Kenya, on December 30, 2024. The Kenya Space Agency (KSA) confirmed the object, measuring approximately 2.5 meters in diameter, is a component of a rocket's launch vehicle designed to burn up upon re-entry or fall in uninhabited areas. The incident occurred around 3:00 PM local time, with the object reportedly red-hot on landing and producing a loud sound heard kilometers away. It caused no injuries or immediate safety threats. KSA officials, along with local authorities, secured the area and retrieved the object, which is now under KSA custody for further investigation. The agency is working to determine the origin of the object under international space law and has assured the public of their safety. This is considered an isolated case, and the KSA has urged residents to report any suspicious objects. Similar incidents of space debris have been reported globally in the past.