U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said Thursday (May 6) that there are no plans to shoot down the remnants of a large Chinese rocket that is expected to fall back from the atmosphere this weekend.
The Long March 5B rocket lifted off from China’s Hainan Island on April 29 carrying the Tianhe module, which will serve as a living quarters for the three crew members aboard China’s permanent space station.
The Tianhe launch is the first of 11 missions needed to complete the station.
In an interview with reporters, Austin said he hoped the rocket would land in the ocean, and the latest estimate is that it will land Saturday through Sunday.
Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin said Friday that most of the debris from the Chinese rocket will be burned when it re-enters the atmosphere and will not cause any harm.
A report in the Global Times, a Chinese tabloid published by the official People’s Daily, said the rocket was “out of control” and could have caused “Western hype” about the damage. Insiders say the situation is “not worth panicking about.
The U.S. has said it is committed to addressing the risk of congestion due to space debris and wants to work with the international community to “promote leadership and responsible behavior in space.
Recent Comments