The Kenya Space Agency has released a warning about possible space debris passing through the country’s airspace this weekend.
According to their statement, the debris could reenter the Earth’s atmosphere between Saturday, April 19, and Sunday, April 20, 2025.
The object has been identified as Norad ID 61909/2024-205R, which is a large piece of debris from a rocket body, though its exact size and mass remain unknown. It is believed to be part of leftover equipment from a space mission that has now become uncontrolled in orbit.
KSA mentioned that the object is expected to move across eastern Africa, including parts of Kenya. The path will run from the northeast part of the region and head toward the southeast, possibly crossing into Tanzania and other countries beyond.
The agency says that the estimated time for reentry is around 11:15 PM on Saturday night. However, due to the nature of space objects and their unpredictable behavior, there is a large window of possible reentry, stretching from early Saturday at 7:29 AM all the way to Sunday at 3:01 PM.
Even though the agency does not expect the debris to actually fall on Kenyan land, they are advising people to be alert.
Space debris falling to the ground is rare, but it is not impossible. Most of these objects burn up as they enter the atmosphere, but sometimes, small parts may survive and land.
In such cases, pieces of metal or other strange materials may be found on the ground. That is why KSA is asking members of the public to report anything unusual they might see in the sky or on the ground.
People are advised to go to the nearest police station, local administration office, or military base if they notice anything that might be linked to space debris.
At the same time, the Kenya Space Agency is working closely with other international space organizations to improve the predictions about the object’s path. These experts are helping track the debris and assess the chances of it causing any harm. The cooperation helps ensure that countries along the projected path are kept informed and prepared in case something does happen.
In the end, while the risk to Kenya appears low, the warning serves as a reminder that space activities can still affect people on Earth. The Kenya Space Agency’s early alert shows the growing importance of monitoring space objects and sharing accurate information to keep the public safe.
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