Mystery surrounds a rocket engine hauled from the sea by fishermen off the Irish coast earlier this month.

According to Echo Live, the rocket motor was found by fishermen from Union Hall trawling for monkfish some 200 miles south of Dingle.

At first it was believed to be remnant of the failed Virgin Orbit rocket launch in January.

But a spokesperson for Virgin Orbit said it wasn’t from its craft LauncherOne, which crashed into the sea west of Africa, pointing out that “the exhaust valves are totally different”.

The rocket part has been identified as a product of Aerojet Rocketdyne.

However, the California-based defence contractor did not respond to the Irish Examiner’s request for comment as to the rocket’s origin

Ireland’s first Marine Notice of 2023 is out of this world — quite literally, as it advises of potential hazard at sea from a satellite rocket launch from Cornwall next week.

Virgin Orbit has designated a space launch hazard area off the South West Coast active from 10pm on Monday 9 to 1am on Tuesday 10 January, subject to weather and operational constraints.

Where the launch attempt proceeds as planned, no debris will enter this area. However, there is a low probability for the vehicle to produce dangerous debris if a mishap were to occur, Virgin Orbit says.

Mariners are advised to avoid the marine hazard area during and leading up to the launch period due to possible dangerous conditions from potential rocket debris.

More precise details of the launch will be promulgated though the MSI service by the Irish Coast Guard and UK;s HM Coastguard on VHF, MF and NAVTEX broadcasts, five days before the launch.

Virgin Orbit says it will be taking every step possible to monitor the area during the launch attempt. Mariners are advised to report any debris or pollution sightings in the event of a launch mishap.

Backup launch dates as well as relevant coordinates, a map and contact details can be found in Marine Notice No 1 of 2023, attached below.