Australian Space Agency says mystery item on Green Head beach could be part of 'foreign space launch vehicle'
The Australian Space Agency says an unidentified object that washed up on a remote beach in Western Australia could be a part of a foreign-launched rocket.
Police have been guarding the mysterious item for most of the day, as state and federal authorities try to work out what it is.
The canister washed up on a beach at Green Head, 250 kilometres north of Perth, where it was found and reported by curious locals.
In a statement on Monday night, police said an analysis by the Department of Fire and Emergency Services and the Chemistry Centre of WA had determined the object was safe and there was no risk to the community.
"WA Police will maintain security of the object until it is removed and members of the public are requested to stay away from the location," the statement said.
In a series of Twitter posts on Monday afternoon, the Australian Space Agency said it has been helping police to identify the item.
"The object could be from a foreign space launch vehicle," they said.
"We are liaising with global counterparts who may be able to provide more information.
"As the origin of the object is unknown, the community should avoid handling or attempting to move the object."
Object under police guard
Earlier, WA Police said it was guarding the object until its origin could be established.
"In order to maintain the integrity of the investigation, officers from the Western Australia Police Force are currently guarding the object," the statement read.
"This measure has been taken to ensure the preservation of potential evidence and facilitate further expert examination."
Police said the object did not appear to have originated from a commercial aircraft, as had been speculated on social media.
Local resident Garth Griffiths said a neighbour alerted him to the strange find yesterday afternoon.
"Sometime yesterday, a local lady and her partner discovered it just floating on the edge of the water and dragged it out with their four-wheel drive," he said.
"It's a sort of semi-cylindrical object, made of light carbon fibre material like lightweight resin.
"[It's] sort of 2.5 metres across by 2.5 to 3m long."
Mr Griffiths said it was being guarded from 8:00am today however, locals were at the site last night.
"It was a great social evening. It was a lovely, still night, the kids were digging sand castles around it," he said.
"At any stage, there could have been 20-30 people there."
"There were barnacles and marine life growing on it," he said.
"[It] may not be too dangerous and maybe our shire might need to bill Boeing or Lockheed [airline companies] or someone for dropping space junk on our beach," he laughed.
abc.net.au
