posted 07-17-2023 11:44 AM               

We are currently making enquiries related to this object located on a beach near Jurien Bay in Western Australia.

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.

As the origin of the object is unknown, the community should avoid handling or attempting to move the object.

If the community spot any further suspected debris they should report it to local authorities and notify the Australian Space Agency via space.monitoring@space.gov.au.

We are committed to the long-term sustainability of outer space activities, including debris mitigation, and continue to highlight this on the international stage.

From Stephen Clark with Ars Technica (via Twitter):

Online sleuths are fairly confident this is part of the third stage of an Indian PSLV. The PSLV's third stage never reaches orbital velocity, and falls into the Indian Ocean downrange from the launch site.