Scientists and space research centers have warned that a Chinese rocketwhich is located out of controlcould striker against Earth this Saturday; however, the exact place and time when he will do it is not known.
It is the prime mover of the Long March 5B spacecraft, which was launched into space by the National Space Administration on October 31 with the third and final experimental module. China (CNSA).
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China’s launch vehicle will have an uncontrolled re-entry to Earth, as this part of the spacecraft is not designed to reach orbitbecause when the fuel runs out, it separates and falls from the sky.
Therefore, their trajectories are planned so that after fulfilling their function they fall into a safe area; however, it did not break away and reach Earth’s orbit, causing its own re-entry it cannot be controlled.
In this way, there is great uncertainty about the place and date when the booster will fall from the core of the rocket, whose estimated weight is 22.5 tons and about the size of a 10-story building, although only 5-9 tons are expected to survive re-entry and impact with Earth.
Our latest prediction for #CZ5B re-entry of the rocket body is:
🚀05. November 2022 04:51 UTC ± 14 hours
Re-entry will be along one of the ground paths shown here. It is still too early to determine a significant debris trail. Follow here for updates: https://t.co/KZZ9Lh2VoU pic.twitter.com/HeMwDu1VLR— The Aerospace Corporation (@AerospaceCorp) November 2, 2022
This situation is alarming, as the Aerospace Corporation explains that it represents risk for life safety and property damage, as more than 88 percent live below the potential footprint where re-entry would occur.
“This is well above commonly accepted thresholds,” the US corporation said, which is why experts from the Center for Orbital Debris and Re-entry Studies following him.
So, according to the trajectory it follows, scientists’ predictions point to the collision of a Chinese rocket with the Earth this Saturday. November 5 at 4:51 a.m. Coordinated Universal Time.
The Space Force regularly monitors the CZ-5B center stage from the Mengtian l launch; orbit shows consistent orbital decay, re-entry expected in a few days.
This diagram shows (apogee+perigee)/2 pic.twitter.com/ZDSrxc0Y4Q— Jonathan McDowell (@planet4589) November 2, 2022
However, this measurement has range of error 2 p.m., which implies a kilometer difference from the place where it could fall, so the study center pointed out that preventive preparation is necessary.
“Factors such as the uncontrolled descent of the rocket’s core and its size, which is too large to burn up completely in the Earth’s atmosphere, together pose risks high enough to require preventive preparation around the world,” he shared.
Well, even the European Union’s Space Surveillance and Monitoring Operations Center predicts that an out-of-control Chinese rocket will re-enter Earth between this Friday and Saturday.