Days after the launch of India's LVM3-M6 rocket, debris suspected to be from the launch vehicle washed ashore on the eastern coast of Sri Lanka, causing both public curiosity and security concerns. The metallic object was discovered on Sunday evening, December 28, 2025, along the Malai Munthal sea stretch near Trincomalee, close to the coastal town of Sampur. Local fishermen first noticed the debris and alerted Sri Lankan authorities.
The debris is suspected to be a part of the payload fairing, which is a protective shell that houses satellites during the initial phase of the rocket's ascent through the atmosphere. About three minutes into the flight, 174 seconds after liftoff, the two halves of the payload fairing are discarded at an altitude of 116 km. Markings on the payload fairing have indicated that the debris was indeed from the LVM3-M6 launch on December 24, which carried the BlueBird 6 communications satellite for the US-based company AST SpaceMobile.
Following the discovery, Sri Lankan naval officials were deployed to secure the site, under the instructions of the Sampur police division, and access to the area has been restricted until a thorough technical examination is completed. Preliminary assessments suggest that the object had been floating in deep waters off Trincomalee for several days before ocean currents carried it to shore. Authorities have stated that no immediate radiation or explosive risks have been detected, but investigations are ongoing to determine the exact origin and composition of the debris.
Rockets like the LVM3 are designed to shed multiple components in stages as they ascend, allowing them to efficiently overcome Earth’s gravity. These discarded parts are intended to fall into pre-designated ocean zones. However, factors such as strong ocean currents and wind can cause fragments to drift far from their intended splashdown areas.
This is not the first time that rocket debris from an ISRO mission has washed up on foreign shores. In July 2023, debris possibly from a spent stage of an ISRO rocket washed up on a beach in Australia. Similar incidents have occurred in the past in the Indian Ocean region, with debris occasionally washing up in the waters of Sri Lanka and the Maldives. The management and disposal of space debris is a long-standing issue, with international coordination being essential to track and manage falling rocket components.
