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title: Mystery Space Balls in Vietnam Investigated by Officials
description: Military officials seized three mysterious metal balls after they reportedly fell from space and crash-landed in northern Vietnam
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author: Lauren French
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article:modified_time: 2026-02-22T13:52:30.744Z
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og:title: Mysterious Balls Fall from Space in Vietnam
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# Mysterious Balls Fall From Space in Vietnam

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by 

[Lauren French](https://time.com/author/lauren-french/)


## Lauren French


Jan 7, 2016 5:49 PM UTC

by 

[Lauren French](https://time.com/author/lauren-french/)


## Lauren French


Jan 7, 2016 5:49 PM UTC

Military officials in Vietnam have seized three mysterious metal balls after they reportedly fell from space and crash-landed in the north of the country.

Witnesses saw the three balls, ranging from a half pound to about 100 lbs., flying around before they crashed early Saturday morning, [CBC News reports](http://www.cbc.ca/news/technology/vietnam-space-balls-1.3393229). The smallest landed on the roof of a house, while the largest landed away from residences in a maize field.

Investigators have determined the objects are Russian-made, although they could have been sold to other countries for use. The objects were identified as specialized compressed air tanks potentially from a rocket. They don’t contain radioactive or explosive material.

The metal balls are still intact. A professor from Vietnam’s State Space Science and Technology Program [told local media source VietnamNet Bridge](http://english.vietnamnet.vn/fms/society/149583/unidentified-objects-falling-from-the-sky-may-be-satellite-s-fuel-tank.html) this could mean they fell from less than about 60 miles, and might be the result of a failed satellite launch.

\[[_CBC News_](http://www.cbc.ca/news/technology/vietnam-space-balls-1.3393229)\]

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