Chunk of space debris lands in Sask. farm field
"My oldest son and I were out driving around just checking fields," said Sawchuk, who farms near Ituna, Sask., about 250 kilometres southeast of Saskatoon. "We came across this object. We thought originally it was just garbage."
A group of astronomy professors heard about the case and, after agreeing that it was space debris, decided to try to figure out where it came from. Based on the date and location, they connected it to a rocket from private company SpaceX that flew back in February.
University of Regina astronomy professor Samantha Lawler, one of those working with Sawchuk, noted large chunks of metal from space have recently been found in Australia and Washington state, and one smashed through the roof on a house in Florida.
Lawler said space launches and re-entries are now a daily occurrence, so the risk of serious damage or death is increasing rapidly.
