The mysterious large metallic ball that fell out of the sky in Namibia, sparking considerable panic, is most likely a fuel tank from an unmanned rocket.
The hollow "space ball", which weighs six kilograms and has a circumference of 1.1 metres, was found near a village on a remote grassland about 750km from the capital, Windhoek.
Locals reported hearing several small explosions a few days earlier and baffled authorities contacted NASA and the European space agency foradvice. Internet rumours began swirling that it may be evidence of extra-terrestrial life.
The ball is believed to be a "hydrazine bladder tank".
But, alas, as Namibian police were conducting their investigation, gossip site Gawker reported that the ball was most likely a fuel tank for storing hydrazine on unmanned rockets.
A Gawker commenter had provided the information, saying it was a "39-litre hydrazine bladder tank" that was typically "used on unmanned rockets for satellite launches, which would explain why they're falling down in such a specific geographic footprint".
Several such large balls have dropped in southern Africa, Australia and Latin America in the past 20 years, according to reports.
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