Space junk: Australian Space Agency confirms object found beached at Green Head from Indian rocket

The Australian Space Agency has confirmed the mysterious object that attracted international attention when it washed up on a Green Head beach is debris from an Indian rocket.

Police had the bizarre object under police guard after it was found by locals earlier this month, sparking fierce speculation about its origin, including whether it could be from the military, a commercial aircraft or a rocket.

That speculation can be put to rest now after the Australian Space Agency on Monday said it had concluded the object was most likely from an “expended third-stage of a Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle”.

“The PSLV is a medium-lift launch vehicle operated by the Indian Space Research Organisation,” the agency said.

“The debris remains in storage and the Australian Space Agency is working with ISRO, who will provide further confirmation to determine next steps, including considering obligations under the United Nations space treaties.”

The confirmation follows claims by online sleuths that they were first to solve the riddle 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.”

Premier Roger Cook has previously 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 earlier this month.

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.