Confirmed: Strange debris found around WNC part of SpaceX spacecraft

ASHEVILLE, N.C. (WLOS) — It's official: Debris found littered across several places in Western North Carolina were part of a SpaceX spacecraft that broke apart during re-entry.

A statement from NASA Public Affairs on Thursday, June 20, confirmed what many had wondered for weeks.

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"SpaceX has confirmed the re-entry of Dragon spacecraft trunk hardware to NASA following its service missions to the International Space Station," the news release said.

"Most recently, the trunks that supported SpaceX's 30th commercial services resupply and Crew-7 missions re-entered over Saudi Arabia and North Carolina, respectively," the release continues."NASA is unaware of any structural damage or injuries resulting from these findings."

Officials said the debris was expected to burn up upon re-entry, but several pieces turned up in the mountains of North Carolina.

"During its initial design, the Dragon spacecraft trunk was evaluated for re-entry breakup and was predicted to burn up fully," the release said. "The information from the debris recovery provides an opportunity for teams to improve debris modeling. NASA and SpaceX will continue exploring additional solutions as we learn from the discovered debris."

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Between late May and early June, News 13 spoke with three mountain residents who stumbled upon what some believed to be debris from space. One piece found on a remote trail in Haywood County was three feet high and so heavy it had to be carried outusing a lawn mower. Two smaller objects were found by residents in Franklin and Jackson County.

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NASA officials advised anyone who finds a piece of space debris to not handle or retrieve it. Instead, residents are asked tocontact the SpaceX Debris Hotline at 1-866-623-0234 or at recovery@spacex.com.

NASA also released a follow-up statement Friday, June 21, that reads:

"SpaceX has confirmed the re-entry of Dragon spacecraft trunk hardware to NASA following its service missions to the International Space Station. In 2023, trunk debris that supported NASA’s SpaceX Crew-5 re-entered over Colorado, and recently, debris from a private astronaut mission, Axiom Mission 3 (Ax-3), was found in Saskatchewan, Canada, following the deorbit of its trunk on Feb. 26, 2024. Most recently, the trunks that supported SpaceX’s 30th commercial services resupply and Crew-7 missions re-entered over Saudi Arabia and North Carolina respectively. NASA is unaware of any structural damage or injuries resulting from these findings. Previously, in 2022, trunk debris from Crew-1 was discovered in Australia.

There is another trunk currently in orbit attached to the Crew-8 Dragon on the International Space Station. Crew-8 is expected to return later this summer.

During its initial design, the Dragon spacecraft trunk was evaluated for re-entry breakup and was predicted to burn up fully. The information from the debris recovery provides an opportunity for teams to improve debris modeling. NASA and SpaceX will continue exploring additional solutions as we learn from the discovered debris.

Comprised of two sections, a Dragon spacecraft has a pressurized section that safely flies crew or cargo, and an unpressurized expendable section called the trunk. The trunk contains hardware used for spacecraft power and cooling while in orbit. Prior to re-entry, the trunk is jettisoned and breaks up in the Earth’s atmosphere, while the Dragon spacecraft reenters Earth’s orbit – protected by its heatshield – and deploys four parachutes prior to splashing down and completing its mission.

In the unlikely event of locating a piece of space debris, please do not attempt to handle or retrieve the debris. Instead, please contact the SpaceX Debris Hotline at 1-866-623-0234 or at recovery@spacex.com.

NASA and SpaceX remain committed to safeguarding the public, astronauts, and ground crews."