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US Space Command Has an ETA For When That Uncontrolled Rocket Will Crash Down
https://www.sciencealert.com ^ | 7 MAY 2021 | MARIANNE GUENOT

Posted on 05/07/2021 7:30:13 AM PDT by Red Badger

The Pentagon has said it is tracking a chunk of a Chinese rocket that is expected to come back into the atmosphere in the coming days in an uncontrolled reentry.

As of now, it does not know where the debris will land.

The exact point where the rocket will enter the atmosphere will be known only within "hours" of its reentry, the US Space Command, a branch of the US military, said in a statement Tuesday.

The core of the rocket, which China launched April 29, has been predicted to come back to Earth "around May 8", Space Command said. Its exact trajectory is still unclear.

The rocket is in orbit and will be falling back to Earth uncontrolled, Insider's Morgan McFall-Johnsen reported Saturday.

The Harvard astrophysicist Jonathan McDowell told CNN that the rocket was traveling at 29,000 km/h (18,000 mph), which means a tiny change to its orbit would change its trajectory significantly.

Based on the rocket's current orbit, the debris could fall as far north as New York, Madrid, or Beijing and as far south as southern Chile or Wellington, New Zealand, Reuters reported.

Much of the rocket is likely to burn up on reentry, but experts are concerned some debris might reach Earth.

Though it could hit a populated area, it is far more likely that it won't. Most of the Earth's surface is ocean, and much of its land is uninhabited.

McDowell told CNN the risk of the debris causing damage was "pretty small".

But it is not null. Last time a Chinese Long March 5B rocket, similar to the one that was launched this time, reentered the atmosphere, debris reportedly landed on buildings in two villages in Ivory Coast.

McDowell told Space News that letting debris reenter the atmosphere uncontrolled was "unacceptable".

"Since 1990 nothing over 10 tons has been deliberately left in orbit to reenter uncontrolled," he said.

The core of the rocket is thought to weigh about 21 tons.

Answering a reporter's question about the Chinese rocket on Wednesday, the White House press secretary, Jen Psaki, said the US was "committed to addressing the risks of growing congestion due to space debris."

The Long March 5B rocket was carrying the first component of China's space station, which China aims to complete by 2022.

The launch was one of 11 planned missions to build the station, Insider's Morgan McFall-Johnsen reported on April 29.


TOPICS: Astronomy; Health/Medicine; History; Science
KEYWORDS: chinarocket; hoursnotice
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1 posted on 05/07/2021 7:30:13 AM PDT by Red Badger
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To: Red Badger
Most of the Earth's surface is ocean, and much of its land is uninhabited.

But Bill Gates is worried we have too many people. The Earth could easily sustain 40+ BILLION people, and still have lots of wilderness...........................

2 posted on 05/07/2021 7:31:47 AM PDT by Red Badger (Jesus said there is no marriage in Heaven. That's why they call it Heaven.....................)
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To: Red Badger
"Looks like I picked the wrong week to stop taking amphetamines"
3 posted on 05/07/2021 7:32:16 AM PDT by RckyRaCoCo (Please Pray For My Brother Ken.)
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To: RckyRaCoCo

4 posted on 05/07/2021 7:34:37 AM PDT by Red Badger (Jesus said there is no marriage in Heaven. That's why they call it Heaven.....................)
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To: Red Badger

“the debris could fall as far north as New York, Madrid, or Beijing and as far south as southern Chile or Wellington, New Zealand, Reuters reported.”

What a huge window for the debris.

Is there any payment China will compensate the victims of their failure?


5 posted on 05/07/2021 7:34:49 AM PDT by Bayard
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To: Red Badger

Ya’ll keep your eye to the sky this weekend.


6 posted on 05/07/2021 7:37:36 AM PDT by Pollard
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To: Bayard

I doubt it. They are cheapskates...............


7 posted on 05/07/2021 7:37:46 AM PDT by Red Badger (Jesus said there is no marriage in Heaven. That's why they call it Heaven.....................)
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To: Red Badger

Imagine a rocket engine hitting New York city! Another airstrike, again!


8 posted on 05/07/2021 7:37:51 AM PDT by Bayard
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To: Bayard

Washington DC?

Pelosi’s house?

Portland in the middle of an antifa riot?

So many choices but a girl can dream.


9 posted on 05/07/2021 7:39:54 AM PDT by metmom (...fixing our eyes on Jesus, the Author and Perfecter of our faith....)
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To: Red Badger

Also speaks to the BIG LIE about climate change...


10 posted on 05/07/2021 7:42:09 AM PDT by Lakewood
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To: Red Badger
US Space Command is tracking a chunk of a Chinese rocket and it does not know where the debris will land.

Washington DC?

11 posted on 05/07/2021 7:43:55 AM PDT by Navy Patriot (Celebrate Decivilization)
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To: Red Badger
shades of


12 posted on 05/07/2021 7:49:20 AM PDT by Chode (there is no fall back position, there is no rally point, there is no LZ... we're on our own. P144:1)
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To: Red Badger
Are they going to get Gary Seven to help out?
13 posted on 05/07/2021 7:50:19 AM PDT by OttawaFreeper ("The Gardens was founded by men-sportsmen-who fought for their country" Conn Smythe, 1966 )
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To: Red Badger

pieces fallin on our heads, Skylab, Skylab, sha-doo-bay

(parody sung to Shattered by the Rolling Stones by Steve Dahl and Teenage Radiation from 1979


14 posted on 05/07/2021 7:53:00 AM PDT by KingLudd
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To: Red Badger

So is this going to happen every time the Chinese send another piece of their new space station up?


15 posted on 05/07/2021 7:54:49 AM PDT by antidemoncrat (somRead more at: https://economicti)
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To: antidemoncrat

Until it cost them money..................


16 posted on 05/07/2021 7:56:44 AM PDT by Red Badger (Jesus said there is no marriage in Heaven. That's why they call it Heaven.....................)
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To: Red Badger

Stay away from that piece of rocket — it could be contaminated with something worse than COVID-19. Some new disease China is trying out on the planet’s population.


17 posted on 05/07/2021 8:05:55 AM PDT by 353FMG
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To: Bayard

They have Cuomo to rescue them.


18 posted on 05/07/2021 8:07:31 AM PDT by 353FMG
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To: 353FMG

Spray it with bleach and lysol.....................


19 posted on 05/07/2021 8:08:00 AM PDT by Red Badger (Jesus said there is no marriage in Heaven. That's why they call it Heaven.....................)
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To: Red Badger

If this were a US launcher, the press would be merciless...


20 posted on 05/07/2021 8:10:11 AM PDT by Chauncey Gardiner
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