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Chaco Authorities Secure Suspected Space Debris After Cylindrical Object Falls in Puerto Tirol

Investigators plan to trace the piece’s origin using an inscribed serial number and laboratory analyses.

Overview

  • Witnesses reported a late‑afternoon fall at Campo Rossi in Puerto Tirol, where police found a carbon‑fiber cylinder about 1.70 m by 1.20 m with a 40 cm opening, valves, and a visible serial number.
  • Specialist explosives personnel established a 30‑metre perimeter, found no combustible material or immediate explosive risk, and warned of potential toxic residues from the structure’s dust.
  • The item remains under police custody with access limited to technical teams, and a commission from the Argentine Air Force has been called to evaluate safe removal and conduct forensics.
  • Authorities and experts say the leading but unconfirmed hypothesis is that it is space hardware, possibly a fuel‑tank sleeve or COPV; media speculation ranges from SpaceX components to a Chinese Jielong‑3 mission.
  • No injuries or property damage were reported, and officials urged residents not to touch the artifact or any possible fragments that might appear nearby.