Shock new theory emerges about the mysterious metal object on beach

Shock new theory emerges about the mysterious metal object that washed up on an Aussie beach sparking the military to be called in to investigate

• Washed up cylinder being investigated
• Astrophysicist thinks it could be space junk 
• Authorities have cordoned off the area 

A mysterious metal object that has washed up on a remote Australian beach could be space junk from an Indian rocket.

Defence force members and other state and federal agencies have been called in to help identify the heavily barnacled cylinder, which has been cordoned off and placed under police guard. 

Australian National University astrophysicist Brad Tucker warned it might be a jettisoned fuel tank of a rocket – which could be dangerous.

A mysterious metal object (pictured) has washed ashore on an Australian beach, sparking an investigation involving police and maritime partners 

The mystery object washed up on beach roughly 250km north of Perth on Sunday afternoon

‘My rule with space junk, it’s like Australian animals: don’t touch it unless you know what you’re doing. The fuel is usually carcinogenic, so exercising caution is important,’ Dr Tucker told The Age. 

Reddit users have speculated it could be a portion of an Indian LVM3-M4 rocket.

The object appears to have cables or wires hanging from the top.

The Australian Space Agency said it is contacting other international agencies in a bid to identify the device.

‘The object could be from a foreign space launch vehicle and we are liaising with global counterparts who may be able to provide more information,’ the agency said in a tweet.

After being spotted the object quickly drew a crowd of interested locals, with some posing for photos holding beers with the device before authorities arrived.

A WA Police spokeswoman said the object was being treated as hazardous until it could be determined otherwise.

The strange metal cylinder was discovered on a beach near Green Head, on West Australia’s mid-West Coast, by a local community member

‘The investigation is ongoing, and until further information is available, we urge everyone to refrain from drawing conclusions,’ she said.

‘At this early stage it appears the object did not originate from a commercial aircraft.’

The discovery comes three weeks after another mysterious device was found floating off the coast of North Beach in Perth.

According to The West Australian, Australian Defence Force personnel detonated the device which was later found to be a marker marine flare.

There are around five to 10 rockets launched around the world to put satellites into orbit each week.

Chinese rocket boosters have fallen on the Philippines and between Australia and New Zealand. 

Parts from one of Elon Musk’s SpaceX rockets were found in the US state of Washington.

Western Australia was the landing spot for arguably the most famous space junk in history.

Australian National University astrophysicist Brad Tucker (pictured) speculated the object could be space junk

When the American orbiting space station Skylab fell out of orbit in 1979 it became a media sensation with many speculating on where pieces might land amid concern it could hit humans and property. 

In July of that year Skylab debris landed about 480km east of Perth and was found between Esperance and Rawlnna.

Locals and an airline pilot saw dozens of colorful flares as large chunks of Skylab broke up in the atmosphere.

Esperance Shire jokingly fined NASA A$400 for littering and the amount was even paid on the space agency’s behalf by a California-based morning radio host who raised the funds from listeners in 2009.

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