A segment of the Chinese space rocket launched last Sunday made its uncontrolled return to the atmosphere on Saturday and disintegrated over the Indian Ocean, the US military said, without specifying whether debris had caused damage.
“Space Force Command confirms that the PRC’s Long March-5B rocket re-entered the atmosphere over the Indian Ocean on July 30” at 16:45 GMT, the US Army tweeted.
For details on the dispersion of the debris and the exact location of the impact, the US military referred to the Chinese authorities, which on July 24 launched into space the second of the three modules of its Tiangong space station, which should be fully operational. operation before. the end of the year.
The Long March-5B rocket was not designed to control its descent from orbit, which, as with previous launches, has drawn criticism.
China “has not given precise information on the trajectory of its Long March-5B rocket,” NASA chief Bill Nelson tweeted on Saturday.
“All nations conducting space activities must adhere to best practices” because falling objects of this size “present significant risks of causing loss of life or property,” it added.
Billions of euros in its space program
Immense heat and friction are given off as they enter the atmosphere, segments can burn up and disintegrate, but larger ships like the Long March-5B may not be completely destroyed.
Its debris can then land on the earth’s surface and cause damage and casualties, even if this risk is low, since the planet is covered with 70% water.
In 2020, debris from another Long March crashed into villages in Côte d’Ivoire, causing damage but no injuries.
The Asian giant has spent several decades investing billions of euros in its space program.
China sent its first astronaut into space in 2003. In early 2019, it landed a spacecraft on the far side of the Moon, a world first. In 2021, he landed a small robot on Mars and plans to send men to the Moon by 2030.
Source: BFM TV
