Science

What Is the 13-Pound Metal ‘Space Ball’ That Left a 12.5-Foot Crater in Namibia?

Unclaimed Space Ball Found in Namibia Undergoing Investigation

Metal ball from the sky found in Namibia. (Photo: National Forensic Science Institute via PhysOrg)

Officials are baffled as to the origin and purpose of a 13-pound metal ball that slammed into the grassland of northern Namibia.

The ball was found in November but due to investigations, officials postponed announcing the find, according to AFP (via PhysOrg). NASA and the European Space Agency have been contacted.

AFP reports that the ball is hollow with a diameter of 14 inches and appears to be two halves welded together. The metal is reported to be an “alloy known to man” and officials have said it is not an explosive or dangerous.

Space.com reports that the impact of the ball created a crater 13 inches deep and 12.5 feet in diameter. CNN notes that the sound of explosions were reported being heard around the time the ball was found but no evidence of an actual explosion was identified. CNN goes on to state that Paul Ludik, director of the country’s National Forensic Science Institute, said no space agency has laid claim to the ball and examination is still being conducted.

AFP reports that similar balls in the past two decades have been found in southern Africa, Australia and Latin America.

Comments (344)

1 2 3 ... 9
  • billybe123
    Posted on December 23, 2011 at 9:11am

    Re-launch it towards the white house please!!

    Report Post » billybe123  
  • KickinBack
    Posted on December 23, 2011 at 9:09am

    Made in the bowels of China. Launched into the heavens by Russia. Kicked out of the heavens by God. Now waiting for the blame to fall either on Bush, Palin, Bush and Palin, and then worshiped by the OWSers as the fallen head of a gay robot.

    I need more coffee.

    Report Post » KickinBack  
    • payneme73
      Posted on December 23, 2011 at 9:19am

      That was HILARIOUS! Made my morning, Thank you!

      Report Post »  
    • FoeHammer865
      Posted on December 23, 2011 at 9:19am

      LOLOL. Love it!

      Report Post »  
    • Canuck GB Fan
      Posted on December 23, 2011 at 9:30am

      LOL! I am crackin up at this!!!! :D

      Report Post » Canuck GB Fan  
    • AzSage
      Posted on December 23, 2011 at 9:30am

      roflmao. Thanks, I needed a good laugh.

      Report Post » AzSage  
    • MeMadMax
      Posted on December 23, 2011 at 9:32am

      Teeheehee, good morning!

      Report Post » MeMadMax  
    • db321
      Posted on December 23, 2011 at 9:48am

      Deep – you may want to cut back a little on the coffee and post another.

      Report Post » db321  
    • cemerius
      Posted on December 23, 2011 at 9:54am

      LMAO! You need more coffee to bring another good zinger!!

      Report Post » cemerius  
    • johnpaulkuchtajr
      Posted on December 23, 2011 at 10:32am

      You didn’t REALLY mean the part about Sarah, did you????

      Report Post »  
    • Kirsten
      Posted on December 23, 2011 at 10:44am

      That is so awesome!!! You made my morning too! I need more coffee too, I just spit it all over my computer monitor! Thanks

      Report Post » Kirsten  
    • BarbarianSOB
      Posted on December 23, 2011 at 10:59am

      Awesome!

      Report Post »  
    • Ballot_Box_Revolution
      Posted on December 23, 2011 at 11:08am

      Awesome….we could make a movie with that…..lol

      Report Post » Ballot_Box_Revolution  
    • audiemurphy
      Posted on December 23, 2011 at 12:12pm

      satellite fuel cel. empty of common sense of course like a gay mans head.

      Report Post » audiemurphy  
    • JudyG46
      Posted on December 23, 2011 at 12:42pm

      Clever and creative, not to mention humorous!!! LOL!

      Report Post » JudyG46  
    • LikesToFightGuy
      Posted on December 23, 2011 at 12:49pm

      best post of the year…my vote

      Report Post » LikesToFightGuy  
    • oldblueroadking
      Posted on December 23, 2011 at 1:31pm

      Too funny Kickinback, but your correct, it will get blamed on Bush/Palin somehow

      Report Post »  
    • mogew
      Posted on December 23, 2011 at 2:16pm

      Lmao

      Report Post »  
    • Chuck Stein
      Posted on December 23, 2011 at 2:21pm

      That post should be moved to the top of the string.

      Report Post »  
    • GaelWildflower
      Posted on December 23, 2011 at 2:31pm

      I love you, sir. Have a merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

      Report Post » GaelWildflower  
    • Firefighter 538
      Posted on December 23, 2011 at 4:23pm

      Right On!

      Report Post » Firefighter 538  
    • Mountain Mama Martha
      Posted on December 23, 2011 at 5:06pm

      I’ll buy that Kickinback! Love to get laughs out of this ridiculous world we are living in. And El Pistoffo, thanks…sure looks like the same to me. Just not shiny after it’s trip in space anymore.

      Report Post » Mountain Mama Martha  
    • KickinBack
      Posted on December 23, 2011 at 5:22pm

      Wow, didn’t know that my sleepyhead and a couple of funky stories could bring so many chuckles :) Thanks all, and have a safe Merry Christmas!

      Report Post » KickinBack  
    • mike san diego
      Posted on December 23, 2011 at 5:44pm

      i am awarding you the prize for best post of the day. thank you for the belly laugh!

      Report Post »  
    • RepubliCorp
      Posted on December 23, 2011 at 7:44pm

      worshiped by the OWSers as the fallen head of a gay robot<<<so funny, SNL needs you

      Report Post » RepubliCorp  
    • The-Monk
      Posted on December 23, 2011 at 10:24pm

      @KickinBack
      Nice job and you have a wonderful and safe Christmas also.
      The-Monk

      Report Post » The-Monk  
    • TomFerrari
      Posted on December 24, 2011 at 4:56am

      GOOD ONE!

      Post of the day!

      RESTORING LOVE July 26 27 28, Dallas TX – BE THERE !
      http://www.meetup.com/MercuryOneHQ
      Do you GBTV?

      Report Post » TomFerrari  
    • TheVoice1
      Posted on December 24, 2011 at 8:30am

      lol…ha ha… I can hear it now, “mike check” “mike check” fearless leaders head has arrived!!!

      Oh yeah lol made my day as well….

      Stand Strong America

      Report Post » TheVoice1  
    • Michael Harris
      Posted on December 24, 2011 at 9:34am

      classic!

      Report Post »  
    • HumbleMan
      Posted on December 24, 2011 at 10:01am

      ElPistOff got it right … even though my first guess was in intergalactic volley-ball.

      Report Post » HumbleMan  
    • little big man
      Posted on December 24, 2011 at 11:07am

      Or it could be Megatrons left nut.

      Report Post » little big man  
    • PaulKB
      Posted on December 24, 2011 at 8:43pm

      Head of a gay robot? Really?? That’s a pretty queer thing to say. Don’t lesbians have thier own gay robot heads? Sorry. Sometimes my humour is a little too tongue-in-cheek….

      Report Post »  
  • KINGRUDDY
    Posted on December 23, 2011 at 9:07am

    Wake up America!!!!
    The sky is falling, buy gold, store and ration food, know the history….but then POOF all is gone.
    DOOMSDAY!!!!!
    Wake up America!!!!

    Report Post » KINGRUDDY  
    • Eliasim
      Posted on December 23, 2011 at 9:14am

      The amount of doom in a Doomsday is only what people make of it.

      Report Post »  
    • MeMadMax
      Posted on December 23, 2011 at 9:34am

      It’s not the end of the world…
      It’s the end of the country…
      The earth don’t care about us, in a million years from now, everything that we have built will be perfectly folded back into nature with loving care……

      Report Post » MeMadMax  
    • Muddywood
      Posted on December 23, 2011 at 11:02am

      How long is a Doomsday?

      Report Post » Muddywood  
    • scuba13
      Posted on December 23, 2011 at 3:41pm

      Why did somebody bury Steelhead up to his shoulders?

      Report Post » scuba13  
  • spreadcommonsensenot pc
    Posted on December 23, 2011 at 9:04am

    Looks like an alien nipple to me…………

    Report Post »  
  • grumpyB143
    Posted on December 23, 2011 at 9:00am

    Could it be some kind of chemical or biological weapon? Or am I off base?

    Report Post »  
  • Tomr
    Posted on December 23, 2011 at 8:59am

    These are known as “cyclospheres” and are quite common this time of the year. Their exact origin is not know, however most experts believe their source is somewhere south of Antarctia. Three of the cyclospheres were reported to have landed in Pennsylvaniain in July 2008, all within a radius of 1.5 miles. Although there was some low levels of radiation detected, it was attributed to passage through the Van Allen Radiation Belt. The strange thing about this latest report is the size of the impact crater. Most previous reports show impact craters being extremely small as cyclospheres are filled with flubber and bounce upon impact.

    Report Post »  
    • Todd P
      Posted on December 23, 2011 at 9:05am

      You really had me going – until I got to the “flubber” part! LOL!!!!!

      Report Post »  
    • Tipdog
      Posted on December 23, 2011 at 10:15am

      lol, South of Antarctica. Thats good!

      Report Post » Tipdog  
    • amd1044
      Posted on December 23, 2011 at 10:29am

      The south of Antarctica is where I figured u out.

      Report Post »  
  • Ksera Sugarmail
    Posted on December 23, 2011 at 8:58am

    It’s the Hammer of Thor.

    Report Post »  
  • iac
    Posted on December 23, 2011 at 8:57am

    Mel Brooks’ SpaceBalls,,,,,Moichendising !!!

    Report Post »  
    • WSGAC
      Posted on December 23, 2011 at 9:03am

      It’s probably an artifact from an ancient craft of Nephite origin. Those Nephites were pretty sophisticated, and had advanced technology. I wonder if there is any kind of writing on this artifact that would give some kind of insight into what the Nephite script looked like. Afterall, we don’t have any linguistic evidence of ancient Nephite script. Perhaps this ball will shed light on early America?

      Report Post »  
    • lukerw
      Posted on December 23, 2011 at 11:14am

      Ah, yes… and we have President: Screw!

      Report Post » lukerw  
  • semihardrock
    Posted on December 23, 2011 at 8:53am

    with all the “trust” between governments…..who is going to CLAIM it?

    Report Post » semihardrock  
    • FoeHammer865
      Posted on December 23, 2011 at 9:24am

      Yep, I‘m surprised it hasn’t already “disappeared” in a “laboratory robbery”.

      Report Post »  
  • PPMStudios
    Posted on December 23, 2011 at 8:52am

    Yep, the invasion is just around the corner…. ;-)

    Report Post » PPMStudios  
    • cea1939
      Posted on December 23, 2011 at 2:18pm

      Nah, Obama will go around apologizing for whoever tossed it over there. True, he’ll blame it on Bush, but that just gives him more impetus for apologizing for the US.
      Actually, and this is true, I read about an incident during the Civil War where the Confederate army built a gigantic cannon and loaded it with a cannon ball. I believe it was somewhere south of Richmond, They had it aimed (or so they thought) at the White House, but when they fired it the point of impact was never discovered. Speculation at the time was that it had overshot the White House and landed somewhere in the ocean. In the article I read, however, someone had done a lot of scientific research, studying the elevation of the gun, the amount and type of gunpowder used, the proposed trajectory, and other ballistic information and were suggesting that the cannon ball may have been fired with enough power to launch it into orbit. Could it be?? Of course this one doesn’t look like a cannon ball, but it’s an interesting premise.

      Report Post »  
  • countryfirst
    Posted on December 23, 2011 at 8:51am

    No one should make any reference to Obama, he has no balls.

    Report Post » countryfirst  
    • BarbarianSOB
      Posted on December 23, 2011 at 8:58am

      Hahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

      Report Post »  
    • gonetotheright
      Posted on December 23, 2011 at 9:15am

      Not true! He has butternuts!

      Report Post »  
    • AzSage
      Posted on December 23, 2011 at 9:31am

      You guys are on it today.

      lol, thanks again!!

      Report Post » AzSage  
    • piper60
      Posted on December 23, 2011 at 9:33am

      WELL SAID. Although, I would have added—-no alligence to his country, either.

      Report Post » piper60  
    • amd1044
      Posted on December 23, 2011 at 10:32am

      That’s hilarious, before this post really nobody had mentioned obama, I guess when you see a big ball you don’t think of him.

      Report Post »  
    • RichNGadsden
      Posted on December 23, 2011 at 11:16am

      COUNTRYFIRST, LOL…didn’t Matt Damon make the same claim here yesterday?

      Report Post » RichNGadsden  
    • NOT A CRAZY
      Posted on December 24, 2011 at 2:08am

      You beat me too it!!!!

      Report Post » NOT A CRAZY  
  • kentuckypatriot
    Posted on December 23, 2011 at 8:49am

    Are they filming a Joe Dirt 2 in the area?

    Report Post » kentuckypatriot  
    • Cause4Liberty
      Posted on December 23, 2011 at 11:14am

      Thats what they call a boeing bomb, A big ole chunk of poopie!

      Report Post » Cause4Liberty  
  • Eliasim
    Posted on December 23, 2011 at 8:49am

    Looks like a wonder in the heavens to me. I‘d say it’s a lot of nothing, and what an odd impact crater “13 inches deep by 12.5 feet, and the thing didn’t even break-up. Looks like stars falling to me.

    Report Post »  
    • Eliasim
      Posted on December 23, 2011 at 8:52am

      One thing for sure it didn’t fall from a 10,000 mph orbit, or come whizzing in at 25,000 mph like a meteor.

      Report Post »  
    • Eliasim
      Posted on December 23, 2011 at 8:55am

      “Come on people what are you doing slowing down? You must, must have the need to want more, come on……want, yes, yes, slave.”

      Report Post »  
    • Eliasim
      Posted on December 23, 2011 at 8:59am

      All I know is that if I was a twisted evil person who only cared about power I would drop things from the heavens on-top of countries I wanted to placate and put in awe.

      Report Post »  
    • Eliasim
      Posted on December 23, 2011 at 9:04am

      Remember that movie “The God’s Must Be Crazy” when the pop bottle falls from the sky?

      Report Post »  
    • Harry Assenback
      Posted on December 23, 2011 at 10:59am

      ………Here’s a napkin to wipe away all of your drivel.

      Report Post » Harry Assenback  
  • MirabellaDesign
    Posted on December 23, 2011 at 8:49am

    one of Gods boccie balls ?

    Report Post » MirabellaDesign  
  • drago
    Posted on December 23, 2011 at 8:45am

    Guess the Autobots got neutered…..

    Report Post »  
  • TheFonz
    Posted on December 23, 2011 at 8:45am

    It is obviously a Martian lemon.

    Report Post » TheFonz  
  • Alan
    Posted on December 23, 2011 at 8:40am

    I think I saw this movie, it grows arms and legs and . . .

    Report Post »  
  • Mango Mangone
    Posted on December 23, 2011 at 8:39am

    Were the “Mythbusters” gang in the area?

    Report Post » Mango Mangone  
  • raderby
    Posted on December 23, 2011 at 8:38am

    MYTHBUSTER cannon attempts nearby…they work for Obama now, right?

    Report Post » raderby  
  • lukerw
    Posted on December 23, 2011 at 8:31am

    Have we devolved so much under Obama… that our own Space Debris… seem like divine artifacts?

    Report Post » lukerw  
    • Harry Assenback
      Posted on December 23, 2011 at 9:29am

      ……….You might consider the fact that a meteorite fell from the sky years ago and now Muslims walk around it once a year.

      Report Post » Harry Assenback  
  • BOMUSTGO
    Posted on December 23, 2011 at 8:27am

    Could it be a hydrozene or LOX tank from a satelite that’s orbit decade?

    Report Post » BOMUSTGO  
    • Brad in Victoria
      Posted on December 23, 2011 at 8:37am

      you’re probably right. looks like an fuel cell for an rcs off a satellite or rocket.

      Report Post »  
    • Hobart_the_Fat
      Posted on December 23, 2011 at 1:39pm

      From image and description, it’s almost definitely a hydrazine fuel tank of one of the many satellites or spcae debri floating above.

      Report Post »  
    • BOMUSTGO
      Posted on December 23, 2011 at 2:20pm

      There was a time when China could not get a satelite in orbit..That would mean their attempts only made a sub-orbital flight and came back down somewhere on the earth until Clinton sold them the capability.

      Report Post » BOMUSTGO  
  • Baddoggy
    Posted on December 23, 2011 at 8:27am

    The Antichrist lands on Earth….Oh wait he is already here in the White House.

    Report Post » Baddoggy  
    • Darla_K
      Posted on December 23, 2011 at 9:03am

      Imagine getting hit in the head with that. OUCH!

      Report Post » Darla_K  
  • quicker
    Posted on December 23, 2011 at 8:26am

    Come on now if this went through the atmoshpire it would have burned up in reentry.This had to be planted.

    Report Post » quicker  
    • Brad in Victoria
      Posted on December 23, 2011 at 8:39am

      fuel tanks for satellites and rockets are made of alloys that can take being pressurized through a launch. they usually survive reentry into the atmosphere. remember skylab?

      Report Post »  
    • Welcome Black Carter
      Posted on December 23, 2011 at 12:18pm

      Does it say “Made in China” somewhere on it?

      Report Post » Welcome Black Carter  
    • BOMUSTGO
      Posted on December 23, 2011 at 2:22pm

      When Columbia broke up over Texas,the Hydrazene tanks survived reentry and a team wearing protective gear retrieved the tanks.

      Report Post » BOMUSTGO  
  • Gonzo
    Posted on December 23, 2011 at 8:20am

    God throws a mean fast ball.

    Report Post » Gonzo  
  • NewLife56
    Posted on December 23, 2011 at 8:20am

    It’s clearly Martain Dong

    Report Post » NewLife56  
1 2 3 ... 9

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