Space debris dubbed 'WTF' on collision course with Earth

A peculiar piece of space debris called WT1190F is on a collision course with Earth, according to scientists.

The object is believed to be a discarded rocket body and will likely enter Earth’s atmosphere from above the Indian Ocean on November 13, according to the European Space Agency. 

The debris was first spotted in 2013 by the Catalina Sky Survey, based at the University of Arizona, and has been observed several times over the years, according to the ESA.

The mysterious object is currently orbiting Earth every three weeks and is not expected to cause any damage when it enters Earth’s atmosphere, according to ESA.

The object, WT1190F,  also forms a colorful acronym that the journal Nature says sums up what scientists are currently asking: WTF is this thing?

Researchers used observational data to estimate the objects density and were able to conclude that it was not an asteroid. It appears to be manmade and it’s possible the object is from the Apollo era, according to Nature. 

“This density is, in fact, compatible with the object being a hollow shell,”  Detlef Koschny of the ESA’s Space Situational Awareness (SSA) program office, said in a statement. 

When the object enters the atmosphere, it will likely burn up completely, though whatever does not burn will likely plunge into the Indian Ocean.

The object offers researchers an opportunity to gather data on how objects interact with Earth’s atmosphere upon re-entry, according to the ESA.

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