NASA head criticizes China’s “uncontrolled” rocket crash back to Earth
A 23-ton Chinese rocket booster fell back to Earth uncontrolled and plunged into the south-central Pacific ocean early Friday morning.
NASA administrator Bill Nelson criticized the Chinese for their reckless, uncontrolled rocket booster reentry.
“Once again, the People’s Republic of China is taking unnecessary risks with the uncontrolled rocket stage reentry of their Long March 5B rocket stage.” “They did not share specific trajectory information, which is needed to predict landing zones and reduce risk.” “It is critical that all spacefaring nations are responsible and transparent in their space activities … and follow established best practices, especially, for the uncontrolled reentry of a large rocket body debris — debris that could very well result in major damage or loss of life.”
US Space Command confirmed the Long March 5B rocket reentered the Earth’s atmosphere over the south-central Pacific Ocean around 0600 ET. A second object reentered around 0606 ET, indicating the rocket might have broke in half.
It was the fourth time China’s Long March 5B rocket made an uncontrolled reentry back to Earth in recent years, putting the world on high alert as it was anyone’s guess on the booster’s final destination.
Zhao Lijian, a foreign ministry spokesman, disputed the claims of China’s reckless handling of the reentry: “I would like to stress that China has always carried out activities in the peaceful use of outer space in accordance with international law and international practice — reentry of the last stage of a rocket is an international practice.” Lijian said the booster “is designed with special technology; most of the components will burn up and be destroyed during the reentry process, and the probability of causing harm to aviation activities and on the ground is extremely low.”
