Mysterious Metal Balls Fall From Sky In Gujarat Village, Experts Suspect It To Be Chinese Rocket Debris

On May 12, the first shells that fell from space were found in Bhalej, Khambholj and Rampura villages of Anand district of Gujarat.

Mysterious spherical metal ball found in some villages of Gujarat (Source: ABP)

New Delhi: Four mysterious spherical metal balls are being found in some villages of Gujarat which have fallen from space over the past few days. The Deputy Superintendent of Police of Anand district B D Jadeja said, "the hollow metal spheres, each of about 1.5 feet diameter, fell between May 12 and 13 in Dagjipura, Khambholaj and Rampura villages of Anand district and Bhumel village of neighbouring Kheda district"

On May 12, the first shells that fell from space were found in the Bhalej, Khambholj and Rampura villages of Anand district of Gujarat. Such shells were also found in Chaklasi village of Kheda district. On May 14, a similar shell was found in Savli village in the Vadodara district. Experts from local Forensic Science Laboratories (FSL) examined areas of biohazards that could affect humans and animals.

"Our primary analysis suggested that these metal balls might belong to a satellite. For further analysis, we have decided to consult the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) as well as the Physical Research Laboratory in Ahmedabad," Jadeja said.

US-based astronomer Jonathan McDowell in a tweet on May 12 said these metal circles are likely debris of the Chinese rocket Chang Zheng 3B, commonly known as CZ 3B.

The debris could have fallen over Gujarat during the "reentry" of the rocket, he said.

On May 12, McDowell tweeted, "The third stage from the Chang Zheng 3B serial Y86 rocket, which launched the ZX-9B communications satellite in Sep 2021, reentered today sometime around 0900-1200 UTC."

"CZ-3B Y86's final orbital parameters are a bit uncertain due to its highly elliptical orbit with very low (100 km or so) perigee rapidly changing due to drag. But appears a fair match for the reentry over Gujarat at 1115 UTC May 12 from which debris has been found on the ground," he added.

These metal balls may be the gas tanks utilised in rockets and satellites to store hydrazine, a kind of fluid fuel, saidrRetired ISRO researcher B S Bhatia. 

Generally, empty storage tanks on a rocket are modified to separate consequently and fall on the ground after the fuel is totally consumed.

"These large spheres might be the storage tanks for hydrazine. This is a very common fuel, primarily used to keep satellites in their orbit. This liquid fuel is also used in rockets," Bhatia said.

Gujarat's Anand District Collector MY Daxini said the Forensic Science Laboratory team is examining the samples and is in touch with the District Collectorate Physical Research Laboratory, Ahmedabad and the Space Applications Center (SAC) of the Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO). It is being ascertained whether this debris belongs to a satellite or rocket.

(With PTI inputs)