Burning space junk found in Western Australia's Pilbara region

@JudyEv (364513)
Rockingham, Australia
October 20, 2025 6:48pm CST
Hitting the news headlines here last night was information that a large piece of space junk had landed on a mining road in the Pilbara region of Western Australia’s outback. It was still burning when found. The item is believed to be a propellant tank or pressure vessel from a space launch vehicle and possibly Chinese. The news article said empty rocket fuel tanks that could withstand high temperatures and did not burn up on re-entry were common. I’d hate to be driving and see that coming at me. You can read the news article here: https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-10-20/space-junk-chinese-rocket-jielong-newman-bhp-iron-ore/105912162 The photo shows part of Skylab which was exhibited at the Esperance Museum back in the late 1970s. That’s Vince on the left.
12 people like this
12 responses
Anna
@LadyDuck (485406)
• Italy
17h
I immediately recognized Vince in the photo. There is so much garbage flying over our heads right now that we should be scared walking in the streets.
3 people like this
Anna
@LadyDuck (485406)
• Italy
8h
@JudyEv I think we all have lighter hair now. I have also read that the space is full of junk.
2 people like this
Judy Evans
@JudyEv (364513)
• Rockingham, Australia
8h
Vince hasn't changed much - just much lighter hair! lol They say space is full of junk like this.
3 people like this
snowy
@snowy22315 (197672)
• United States
9h
Yes, can you imajgine looking up and see that hurdling towards you?
3 people like this
Judy Evans
@JudyEv (364513)
• Rockingham, Australia
8h
You wouldn't have time to dodge!
2 people like this
Amber
@AmbiePam (104599)
• United States
23h
Hey, that’s cool!
3 people like this
Judy Evans
@JudyEv (364513)
• Rockingham, Australia
8h
It landed on a mining road so it was hard to miss. Apparently some debris isn't found for years.
3 people like this
Four Walls
@FourWalls (79585)
• United States
21h
Vince photobombing a piece of Skylab! How cool! Yeah, that’s dangerous. I don’t worry about that too much, but sometimes you wonder if a piece of one of Elon’s failures is going to go flying through the roof of your house.
3 people like this
Judy Evans
@JudyEv (364513)
• Rockingham, Australia
18h
Apparently one went through a ceiling in the US while a woman was in bed and hit her on the thigh and another took out the back bumper of a car. But, as you say, not much point in worrying about it too much.
3 people like this
Eva James
@wolfgirl569 (123855)
• Marion, Ohio
10h
More is falling all the time
3 people like this
Judy Evans
@JudyEv (364513)
• Rockingham, Australia
8h
Yes, that's true. It seems space is becoming nearly as polluted as the ocean.
3 people like this
The Horse
@TheHorse (231581)
• Walnut Creek, California
23h
Well dang! I hope one of these does not bop me on the head when I am driving home from work.
3 people like this
Judy Evans
@JudyEv (364513)
• Rockingham, Australia
8h
Not much point worrying about it as you'd have little warning.
2 people like this
Judy Story
@jstory07 (146150)
• Roseburg, Oregon
17h
That is a nice picture of space junk.
2 people like this
Judy Evans
@JudyEv (364513)
• Rockingham, Australia
8h
Skylab was a long time ago.
2 people like this
Fleur
@Fleura (32928)
• United Kingdom
11h
I did read about that. Something like that could come down absolutely anywhere!
2 people like this
Fleur
@Fleura (32928)
• United Kingdom
8h
@JudyEv Very true, and anyway you're much more likely to be hit by a truck as you wander along staring at the sky
1 person likes this
Judy Evans
@JudyEv (364513)
• Rockingham, Australia
8h
Not much point worrying about it as you'd have no warning.
2 people like this
Shiva
@Shiva49 (27566)
• Singapore
11h
Unprovoked aerial attack from up above the sky!
2 people like this
Judy Evans
@JudyEv (364513)
• Rockingham, Australia
8h
Yes, it would be like they say 'when your number is up....'
1 person likes this
LindaOH
@LindaOHio (203860)
• United States
12h
That's a cool photo. Interesting news about the space junk.
2 people like this
Judy Evans
@JudyEv (364513)
• Rockingham, Australia
8h
It seems there is a lot of it up there.
1 person likes this
Winterishere
@thedevilinme (4446)
• Northampton, England
1h
Aliens could invade Australia and no one would know
LooeyVille
@LooeyVille (63)
• United States
12h
It's weird how that happens.
2 people like this
Judy Evans
@JudyEv (364513)
• Rockingham, Australia
8h
I think mostly it burns up before it hits the earth.
2 people like this