On Saturday, April 4, residents of Lampung and Banten, Indonesia reported seeing a “mysterious glowing object” flashing across the sky. Some speculated that it might have been a meteor shower.
On social media, the footage of the object with trailing flames went viral at Indonesia. From the following loud, rambling sound, several voiced concern that the object might be a missile or military projectile.
While social media feared a meteor or missile, experts from BRIN confirmed that it was actually burning Chinese rocket debris specifically, the remains of a Chinese Long March 3B (CZ-3B) rocket re-entering Earth’s atmosphere.
What is Space Debris?
According to NASA’s Orbital Debris Program Office, space debris refers to non-functional human-made objects orbiting Earth.
This can include:
- Large objects: dead satellites that have failed or been abandoned after completing their mission.
- Small objects: tiny fragments, such as paint flakes or debris from rockets.
- Some human-made objects have even been left on the Moon.
Main Causes of Space Debris
- Collisions between satellites and other objects: Often, accidents in orbit lead satellites to break apart into smaller bits, increasing the danger of creating more debris.
- Degradation of old satellites: Satellites and its parts may eventually disintegrate due to exposure to solar radiation and friction with the atmosphere.
- Rocket launch missions: Another major source of space debris is the remains of launch rockets that make it into orbit.
Worst Space Debris Incidents All The Time :
Mystery Ball
In the 1960s, several mysterious spheres appeared in Australia, sparking UFO speculations. One such titanium sphere, spotted in Merkanooka, Western Australia, was later identified as a water tank from the Gemini V spacecraft, launched on August 21, 1965, which reentered and splashed down in the Atlantic Ocean on August 29.
Desert Dropdown
Desert Dropdown
On January 21, 2001, a Delta II third stage rocket (PAM-D) reentered the atmosphere over the Middle East.
- Titanium motor casing (~70 kg) landed in Saudi Arabia
- Pressurant tank near Seguin, Texas
- Main propellant tank near Georgetown, Texas
Columbia Debris
On Feb. 1, 2003, during its return to Earth, Space Shuttle Columbia disintegrated on reentry, killing seven astronauts.
The 2003 Columbia disaster scattered thousands of lethal debris pieces across 28,000 square miles of Texas and Louisiana. More than 80,000 recovered pieces were stored for follow-up research.
Source: Global Society World News, Space