Suspected Jielong Rocket Debris East of Newman

Mine workers found a burning object about 30 km east of Newman in Western Australia's Pilbara on Saturday, prompting a multi-agency response led by WA Police and involving the Australian Space Agency, the Australian Transport Safety Bureau, the Department of Fire and Emergency Services and the mine operator. Initial assessments indicate the debris is carbon-fibre and may be a composite-overwrapped pressure vessel or rocket tank consistent with space re-entry debris; the ATSB has ruled out a commercial aircraft origin. Engineers from the Australian Space Agency have secured the item for further technical analysis and say there is no current threat to public safety. Flinders University space archaeologist Alice Gorman suggested the piece may be part of the fourth stage of China’s Jielong rocket launched in late September. Experts described the incident as an uncontrolled re-entry, noted most debris is deliberately targeted to ocean “graveyards” such as Point Nemo, and warned the public not to touch suspected space junk because it can contain hazardous materials.