NASA and Pentagon aimlessly search for Chinese rocket that will land on Earth in the next few hours

The Pentagon has confirmed that it is following a rocket launched by the Chinese Communist Party what out of control and ready to return to Earth’s atmosphere. Amid the Asian country’s campaign to become a space power, the government launched el Long March 5B Last Thursday from Wenchang, Hainan province, at the start of construction of a new station. However since NASA they said that the trajectory of the vessel did not occur regularly and that they are now on alert for where their debris may fall, crash into and pose a threat.

The return of the rocket to the Earth’s atmosphere is expected this weekend, according to a statement from the Department of Defense, which indicated that the United States Space Command is tracking the device. And while most space debris burns in the atmosphere, this device is so big it weighs 22 tons, which raised concerns.

Long March 5B’s 30-meter-high core braces for one of the largest runaway re-entries in history since it was not designed to be steered, it therefore has no trajectory to fall into the sea at a predetermined point.

And the concern grows. According to what was published by the channel CNN, the point at which the rocket will enter the atmosphere can only be identified a few hours before it arrives, so NASA surveillance is done minute by minute.

“We expect him to return between May 8 and 10. During this two-day period, he toured the world 30 times. It travels at 30,000 kilometers per hour. So if you’re less than an hour away from guessing when it breaks down, you’re less than 20,000 miles from telling when, ”said Jonathan McDowell, astrophysicist at the Center for Astrophysics at Harvard University.

More, the expert pointed out that this condition, this speed, makes it almost impossible to accurately predict where it will impact. In any case, he indicated that the possibility of risk is real even if it decreases if it is seen as the possibility of harming an individual.

However, despite the lack of precise information on its final destination, the surface of the Earth can be a key indicator to take into account to reduce anxiety on the path of this rocket and also bring peace of mind to the population, who despite the news about it anyway is concerned about the fact.

“I don’t think people should take precautions. The risk of damage or impact is low, not negligible, it can happen, but the risk of impact is low. It does not pose a personal threat, ”the astrophysicist said and after that he gave a forecast: “If anyone wants to bet on where they will land on Earth, bet on the Pacific, because that’s most of the Earth. It’s so easy “.

The NASA specialist understands anyway that the greatest danger is the careless design, it does not respect the current rules. If rockets are to be expected not to stay in orbit, but to be placed on a path to crash into the sea, this Chinese project is a bit adrift.

“With the Long March 5B, China took neither of these approaches, but designed the central stage to stay in orbit and enter somewhere at random. a week later thanks to atmospheric drag. This design approach is negligent by current standards in other countries, ”McDowell noted according to the channel’s portal. DW.

This is not a minor problem. With the aim of reaching its own space station, the Asian country is planning further launches of the Long March 5B, with at least two other 22-ton modules.

THE NATION