Police confirm bizarre object found on Green Head beach in Mid West WA likely to be ‘space debris’

Police have confirmed the bizarre, barnacle-covered object that washed up on a beach in Green Head and made headlines around the world is most likely a piece of space junk.

The cylindrical metal item has been under police guard since it was found by locals at the weekend, sparking fierce speculation about its origin, including whether it could be from the military, a commercial aircraft or a rocket.

The beach reopened to the public on Tuesday evening after the mystery object was moved by an excavator to an undisclosed location, where investigations will continue.

On Tuesday, police said the Australian Space Agency had been called in after it was confirmed it was “believed the item is space debris”.

The Australian Space Agency agreed the object could be from a “foreign space launch vehicle”.

“We are liaising with global counterparts who may be able to provide more information,” the Agency said.

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

It comes as amateur sleuths claimed they were the first to solve the riddle online, pointing to remarkable similarities to a fuel tank on an Indian PSLV-C (polar satellite launch) rocket.

“Looks to be a perfect match for India’s PSLV third stage,” one Reddit user posted. “The cable raceway mounts and the top attachment ring line up exactly, as does the wound composite material.”

Australian National University astrophysicist Brad Tucker said if the object was deemed to be space junk, there should be a catalogue or part number that would identify its origin.

Police had earlier confirmed testing by the Department of Fire and Emergency Services and ChemCentre had deemed the object was “safe” and those who had come into contact with it were not at risk.

Several major international news outlets have published articles on the mystery object, including the New York Times.

Premier Roger Cook on Tuesday said if the object was found to be space debris it could find a place in the WA Museum with the wreckage of Skylab, that fell back to Earth and was found scattered around Balladonia in 1979.

“It might add to our growing collection of space debris we seem to be collecting in WA,” he said.

Shire of Coorow president Moira Girando said as long as the debris was not dangerous to the community, she hoped it could be displayed within the Shire.

“As long as it’s not contaminated or dangerous it should be stored and eventually displayed somewhere in Coorow, preferably in Green Head,” she said.

“Council meets tomorrow and I’m sure we will be talking about our options.

“It will be good if the Government thought it was worthy of being displayed in the vicinity of where it was found.

“Where something’s found is probably a good place to have it on display.”

Cr Girando said it was too early on to speculate on where the object could be stored.