2nd piece of space junk landed on Saskatchewan farmland in 2024
In 2024, residents of Saskatchewan were left puzzled as space junk fell onto farmland not once, but twice within a span of a few months. The debris, which failed to burn up in the atmosphere, raised concerns about the potential dangers posed by uncontrolled space debris.
The first incident occurred in April when farmer Barry Sawchuk discovered a large chunk of space debris on his land near Ituna, just west of Yorkton. Upon further investigation, it was revealed that the debris was part of a Space X rocket. The second incident took place on Dan Kennedy’s farm, approximately 15 kilometers southeast of Hodgeville. Travis Kennedy, Dan’s son, stumbled upon a panel resembling a laptop computer in August while combining fields of lentils on their land.
Describing the find, Travis Kennedy stated, “The piece was about 18 inches wide and about 24 inches tall. It sort of looked like a control board that looked to be some programming stuff that might have gone through this board.” Intrigued by the discovery, Kennedy reached out to a friend who had previously worked at SED Systems, a communications company located at the University of Saskatchewan, for assistance in tracing the origin of the debris. Eventually, contact was established with Space X in California, leading to the return of the debris to the company.
In a surprising turn of events, Space X, owned by billionaire Elon Musk, sent Kennedy a cheque for $3,900 US as a token of appreciation for returning the debris. The piece found on Kennedy’s farm was identified as belonging to a Starlink satellite by Samantha Lawler, an associate professor of astronomy at the University of Regina.
Lawler expressed concerns over the increasing number of Starlink satellites in orbit, currently exceeding 7,000. She emphasized the need for stricter regulations governing the disposal of satellites to prevent incidents of space debris falling to Earth. According to Lawler, the accumulation of metal in the upper atmosphere poses a significant risk, especially when debris manages to reach the ground.
The incidents in Saskatchewan serve as a stark reminder of the challenges posed by space debris and the importance of responsible satellite disposal practices. As technology continues to advance, it is crucial for regulatory bodies and space agencies to address the issue of space junk to safeguard both our planet and the outer space environment.
