Great space ball mystery SOLVED: Metal sphere that crashed to Earth in Namibian desert is a fuel tank from an unmanned rocket (not a 'doomsday device')

It was hailed as a doomsday device, an instrument from a weather balloon or proof that extra terrestrial life existed.

But the mysterious metal sphere fell to the ground in a remote area of northern Namibia has now been identified as a hydrazine tank from an unmanned rocket, commonly used in satellite launches.

When the 13lbs, 14 inch ball smashed to earth in mid- November it sparked a national security issue with the Namibian authorities asking NASA for help in identifying it.

The baffling metal sphere, pictured made a crater 12 inches deep where it fell

Adrian Chen of Gawker reported that it was most likely a fuel tank for storing hydrazine on unmanned rockets. He said this after a commentator wrote on his blog: 'For anyone wondering what it actually is, it's likely a 39-litre hydrazine bladder tank.

'They're used on unmanned rockets for satellite launches, which would explain why they're falling down in such a specific geographic footprint.'

When the ball fell it caused a crater 12 inches deep and 13ft wide, although it was found some 60ft away.

Locals claimed to have heard several explosions in the days before it was discovered by a farmer on his land.

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-2078428/Great-space-ball-mystery-SOLVED.html