The rocket is currently sinking “almost intact” and is expected to reenter the atmosphere around Saturday, Pentagon spokesman John Kirby said on Wednesday (local time). Calculating an exact crash site is currently almost impossible due to the uncontrolled sinking.
Last Thursday, the rocket launched the first module of a new Chinese space station. After separating from the component, it began to orbit the earth in an irregular trajectory and has been slowly losing altitude since then.
Because about 70 percent of the earth’s surface is covered by water, landing in the sea is most likely. However, a crash in an inhabited area or on a ship cannot be ruled out. So far, according to Kirby, it’s too early to take action.
It is not the first time that the Chinese space agency has lost control of a spacecraft. In 2018, the Tiangong-1 space laboratory shattered when it reentered the atmosphere. However, China denied having lost control.
The construction of its own space station is a central component of China’s ambitious space program. Operations are scheduled to begin next year.
Published: May 6, 2021, 41 minutes ago
Last updated: May 6, 2021, 6 minutes ago