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Mystery 'Space Balls' Wash Up in Australia
Newser • • world
Key Points:
- Six spherical objects, believed to be pressure vessels from a foreign rocket, washed up on Forrest Beach in north Queensland, Australia, prompting initial safety concerns and exclusion zones.
- The Australian space agency is collaborating with international partners to identify the rocket and its country of origin, with a strong lead already established.
- According to the 1967 Outer Space Treaty, the launching country retains ownership of space debris, meaning Australia must seek permission for recovery or disposal.
- The titanium-alloy tanks are designed to endure intense heat and survive re-entry, even if no malfunction occurred during descent.
- Authorities advise the public to avoid touching suspected space debris and to report sightings to emergency services.
