KSA warns of possible space debris re-entry over southeastern Kenya

Kenya Space Agency officials inspect the object that fell from the skies in Mukuku village, Makueni county.
[Stephen Nzioka, Standard]

The Kenya Space Agency (KSA) has issued a public alert regarding an anticipated re-entry of a space debris.

The object, identified as Norad ID 61909/2024-205R is a fragment from a rocket body of unknown mass.

It is projected to traverse the eastern African region, including a north-south path over Kenya-from the northeastern region to the southeast towards Tanzania.

The re-entry is predicted to occur on Saturday, April 19, 2025, at approximately 11:15 pm, with a margin of error of plus or minus 15 hours and 46 minutes. This window suggests the event could happen anytime between 7:29 am on Saturday and 3:01 pm on Sunday, April 20.

While the debris is not expected to impact Kenyan territory directly, KSA advises the public to remain vigilant.

"Out of an abundance of caution, we are advising the public to be on the lookout for any unusual objects dropping from or flying through the sky during this period," said KSA in a statement.

This alert follows a recent incident on December 30, 2024, when a massive piece of space debris crashed into Makuku Village in Makueni County.

The metallic object, weighing approximately 500 kilograms and measuring 2.5 meters in diameter, was identified as a rocket separation ring component. Residents reported hearing a loud bang upon its impact.

Bram Nakholi, Director of the Kenya Space Society and an astronomer, had earlier explained, "What we're dealing with here is what we call 'space junk' - debris that's typically metallic in nature, originating from various space activities."

In response to the Makueni incident, Health Principal Secretary Mary Muthoni assured the public that preliminary assessments indicated no immediate health risks. However, she advised residents to exercise caution and avoid handling any unknown materials.

The KSA emphasises the importance of public awareness and prompt reporting.

Members of the public are urged to report any sightings of debris or unusual aerial activity to the nearest police station, national government administrative office, or military camp.