A shiny spherical object suspected to be a piece of space debris which landed on a beach in the Forrest Beach area in Queensland, Australia, on July 4, 2026. PR Handout/Supplied by Queensland Fire and Rescue
Suspected space debris has been found on Australian shores for a third day as authorities work to remove the mysterious and potentially hazardous metallic objects.
Queensland authorities have set up exclusion zones around Forrest Beach, north of Townsville in the state’s north, after community members discovered six unidentified metallic balls scattered around the area.
Queensland Fire and Rescue is working with partner agencies, including police and Australia’s national space agency, to safely remove the objects.
Emergency services were first alerted to the strange discovery of three suspected bits of space debris, some resembling shiny orbs, on July 3. A fourth was found on July 4.
Fire crews have confirmed the existence of two more objects on July 5.
Five of the objects have been secured into drums, with specialist scientists working to secure the final one.
A 50-metre exclusion zone remains active around the area.
The nature of the debris and its origin are still being determined.
Locals have been reassured there is no danger to the community and police are not investigating the incident.
People have been urged to immediately call triple zero if more objects turn up unannounced.
Most space debris either lands on Earth in a controlled manner or burns up on re-entry into the atmosphere, but the Australian Space Agency said sometimes survives an uncontrolled return, making it difficult to predict where it will end up.
The items could come from a variety of space objects, including satellites or launch vehicles.
Similar looking balls have previously appeared on Australian shores, with one found in far north Queensland in 2023, while another fell from the sky on a remote grassland in Namibia in 2011.
Anyone who discovers space debris should avoid handling the item, as space objects are sometimes built with hazardous materials, but should notify local authorities.
By William Ton in Melbourne
