The Australian Space Agency (ASA) has announced that it has identified the likely source of six large spheres discovered on Forrest Beach in northern Queensland. According to the ASA, the objects 'appear to be pressure vessels from a space launch vehicle.'

The agency is working with international partners to formally confirm the launch vehicle. Queensland's fire department established a 50-meter exclusion zone on Sunday and urged the public not to touch any suspicious objects, advising immediate evacuation and contact with emergency services.

Online speculation suggested the spheres could be propellant tanks from spacecraft, potentially containing residual amounts of highly flammable or reactive substances. Crews in protective suits were reportedly seen placing the spheres in hazmat barrels under police guard due to concerns about hazardous materials.

Lisa Scobie, owner of Forrest Beach Takeaway, said the local community was curious about the origin of the objects. 'It's very quiet, not a lot happens here. So having a lot of extra activity... that definitely created a little bit of excitement,' she told ABC.

This is not the first time such mysterious objects have appeared on Australia's shoreline. In 2023, India confirmed that a giant metal dome found on a Western Australian beach was from one of its rockets. A similar spherical object was discovered in Namibia in 2011 and was believed to be a fuel tank containing hydrazine from an unmanned rocket.

Source: www.bbc.co.uk