Australian Space Agency takes over assessment of metallic cylinder found near Jurien Bay

The giant metal cylinder washed up near Jurien Bay and was reported to police on July 16.

Experts say there is no evidence that the object came from a commercial aircraft.

A spokesperson for the Australian Space Agency (ASA) said it had determined the object was most likely a solid rocket motor casing.

"The object could be from a foreign space launch vehicle and we are liaising with global counterparts who may be able to provide more information," it said.

The ASA will now take over the ongoing assessment of the cylinder.

WA police inspector Geoff DeSanges said all necessary precautions were taken to ensure residents were kept safe.

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"Due to the initial assessment of the object indicating it was space industry related, and could potentially be space debris, additional precautions were taken to ensure the object posed no danger to the community," he said.

It's not the first time space debris has appeared in WA although most ends up in the state's vast outback.

Skylab, the first US space station, reentered the atmosphere in 1979 and crashed down between Esperance and Rawlinna.

The Shire of Esperance jokingly fined NASA $400 for littering. While the fine was written off three months later, NASA eventually paid it in 2009 after a radio fundraiser.