The core stage of the Long March 5B rocket plunged through Earth’s atmosphere and fell into the sea near the Philippines on the afternoon of July 30.
The Long March 5B rocket launched on July 24 from Wenchang, Hainan. (Photo: CGTN)
The Chinese space agency reported that the Long March 5B rocket debris struck the Earth in the southwestern waters of the Philippines in the Indian Ocean on July 30, and the vast majority of the debris burned up during re-entry, according to the South China Morning Post. However, the U.S. Space Command emphasized that there was no information regarding the trajectory of the debris from this launch vehicle.
“China did not share specific information about the trajectory when the Long March 5B rocket fell back to Earth,” said NASA Administrator Bill Nelson. “Every country needs to comply with regulations and share this information to accurately predict the risk of collision from debris, especially from heavy launch vehicles like the Long March 5B, which can cause significant loss of life and property.”
Experts calculated that the likelihood of injury or damage to infrastructure from the Long March 5B was relatively low. The rocket’s body followed an elliptical orbit around the Earth and was pulled down by atmospheric drag, leading to an uncontrolled descent, according to Aerospace Corp, a nonprofit organization based in El Segundo, California, that provides technical consulting for space missions.
Experts predict that while most of the Long March 5B will burn up during its descent through Earth’s atmosphere, large debris accounting for up to 40% of its weight could remain and fall into the sea or on land. Some predictions suggest that the rocket could fly over various locations in Mexico and Brazil, gliding past the Cape of Good Hope before landing on land in Southeast Asia.
This marks the third uncontrolled re-entry of a Chinese launch vehicle in recent years. In May 2021, debris from a Long March rocket fell into the Indian Ocean. The Long March 5B, with a core stage weighing approximately 22.5 tons, launched on July 24 carrying one of the heaviest payloads in recent times, the Wentian module for the Chinese space station.
