China "Extremely Low Possibility of Damage on Ground"
NASA "China Irresponsible for Their Own Space Debris"
[Asia Economy Reporter Kang Wooseok] An analysis suggests that debris from a Chinese rocket may fall to Earth next week.
According to a CNN report on the 26th (local time), debris from China's Long March 5B rocket is expected to crash to Earth early next week.
On the 24th, China launched an unmanned spacecraft named Wentian aboard the Long March 5B rocket from the Wenchang Launch Center on Hainan Island.
The module successfully docked with the Chinese space station, but debris generated during the rocket booster separation fell toward Earth's atmosphere.
Michael Byers, a professor at the University of British Columbia, stated, "This debris is a metal object weighing over 20 tons. It will burn up and break apart upon entering the atmosphere, but some fairly large pieces will reach the surface."
He added that while space debris poses minimal risk to humans, if it falls in inhabited areas, it could cause damage to the environment or buildings.
The U.S. Space Command plans to track the falling debris. A spokesperson for the U.S. Space Command explained, "Due to varying atmospheric conditions, we cannot specify the exact time, but it is estimated to reach Earth's atmosphere around August 1."
China maintains that the likelihood of the rocket debris causing damage on Earth is low. On the 27th, Zhao Lijian, spokesperson for the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs, said at a briefing, "This rocket booster is specially designed to mostly burn up and disintegrate during reentry," adding, "The possibility of causing damage on the ground is extremely low."
Meanwhile, controversies over China's rocket debris are not new. The Long March 5B has been launched multiple times, and when it was launched at the end of April last year, there were analyses suggesting the debris was uncontrollable. Additionally, in May 2020, debris from the Long March 5B rocket fell in C?te d'Ivoire, Africa, damaging buildings.
Regarding this, Bill Nelson, Administrator of the U.S. National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), criticized in May last year, "Countries launching space vehicles should strive to minimize and transparently manage the threats that debris poses to life and property during atmospheric reentry," and stated, "It is clear that China is not adhering to responsible standards regarding their space debris."
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