Chinese rocket debris crashes into Indian Ocean - state media
Source: BBC
The remains of a Chinese rocket that was hurtling back towards Earth have crashed into the Indian Ocean, the country's space agency says. The bulk of the rocket was destroyed as it re-entered the atmosphere, but state media reported that debris landed just west of the Maldives on Sunday.
There have been days of speculation over where the rocket might land, and US officials and other experts warned its return risked potential casualties. But China insisted the risk was low. The Long March-5b vehicle re-entered the atmosphere at 10:24 Beijing time (02:24 GMT) on Sunday, state media reported, citing the Chinese Manned Space Engineering office. There were no reports of injuries or damage.
It said debris from the 18-tonne rocket, one of the largest items in decades to have an undirected dive into the atmosphere, landed in the Indian Ocean at a point 72.47° East and 2.65° North. US Space Command, meanwhile, simply said the rocket had "re-entered over the Arabian Peninsula".
It did not confirm the landing point reported by Chinese media, saying instead that it was "unknown if the debris [had] impacted land or water".The monitoring service Space-Track, which uses US military data, said the rocket was recorded above Saudi Arabia before it fell into the Indian Ocean near the Maldives.
Read more: https://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-57045058
From CNN - https://www.cnn.com/2021/05/08/app-international-edition/china-space-debris-long-march-rocket-reentry-scn/index.html
speak easy
(9,230 posts)the co-ordinates of a derelict property in FL, but I guess they missed.
EndlessWire
(6,504 posts)2naSalit
(86,515 posts)Glad that's over.
OnlinePoker
(5,719 posts)They have another 10 launches for their space station program and no ability to control the rocket's reentry once it has dropped its payload.
2naSalit
(86,515 posts)Seems metaphoric somehow.
SmartVoter22
(639 posts)Even at 18,000mph, the speed with which things stay in orbit. Our rockets and spacecraft, will always slow down ( unless boosted) until gravity takes over and pulls the object to earth. Gravity is consistent, predictable and reliable.
Our atmosphere is thick enough, with water molecules to create enough friction to cause these space objects to burst into flame, as they descend.
It's the last part of that decent, which can vary a bit, that determines where an object will fall. That small amount of distance, is linked to the speed which determines it's rate of fall. But it will come down.
Most spacecraft are well designed to include the final moments of the spacecraft's life, but apparently the Chinese have decided that this one phase is not worth looking after.
Could we accidentally, but kinda on purpose, have some of our chunky space bits fall on a predetermined spot on earth?
I like Tienanmen Square, as it's already setup to showcase the landing spot where tourists could take selfies with the space bit.
I'm just speculating here as a 'lead by example' proposal for the space programs around the world.
BumRushDaShow
(128,748 posts)Martin68
(22,781 posts)if the debris landed there. China would have had a lot of explaining to do, and it would have bolstered the Hong Kong democracy movement.
JohnnyRingo
(18,623 posts)...next to the rest of their cheap crap.
2naSalit
(86,515 posts)"Hope it hits maga-lago" team myself.
JohnnyRingo
(18,623 posts)It would have been an attack from "Jina" because of the tariffs. The Beijing Thing.
Here's your "booster" shot Donald.
2naSalit
(86,515 posts)Oh well, maybe next time.
BlueWavePsych
(2,635 posts)Sapient Donkey
(1,568 posts)It was expected that the rocket would have uncontrolled reentry? Is this something we should expect to happen with every Chinese launch as they build their space station? Doing a few of these every year for however long seems like at some point it may not land in the ocean. Hopefully that is how things are going to play out, and they will take steps to give a bit more of a controlled entry.
greenjar_01
(6,477 posts)"...so I wished hard on a Chinese satellite..."