In Pics: China's most powerful space rocket to crash into Earth on Sunday
China's most powerful space rocket
The 25-ton Long March 5B rocket was launched into the orbit on Sunday (July 24) to deliver a laboratory module to for China's under-construction Tiangong space station. It was the the third flight of China's most powerful rocket since its maiden launch in 2020.
Rocket debris might hit populated area
China on Wednesday said that the rocket's re-entry would pose little risk to anyone on the ground as it would most likely land in the sea. But, there is a possibility that the debris of the rocket might strike a populated area, as happened in May 2020 when properties in Ivory Coast were damaged.
(Representational photo) Rocket might fall somewhere in Pacific Ocean
ISRO invites people to watch its next rocket launch (Representational image)
Raining rocket debris
As the rocket body will disintegrate while plunging through the atmosphere, it is expected to cause rain debris over an area some 2,000 km (1,240 miles) long by about 70 km (44 miles) wide, independent U.S.-based analysts told Reuters on Wednesday.
(Representational image) China can be penalised
If rocket parts land on people or their property, China can be booked for damages. Under the 1972 Space Liability Convention treaty, the launching nation is liable for its rockets and any damage they cause.
Long March 5B has history of uncontrollable crashes
China's Long March 5B rockets have a history of making the world nervous. The rocket's core stages are hefty pieces of spacecraft, which makes it difficult to control while returning to Earth.
In 2021, the core stage of the 5B-Y2 rocket plummeted into the Indian Ocean over the Maldives, which was also witnessed by members of the Australian Cricket Team. Prior to that, parts of the first 5B-Y1 rocket landed on villages in Cote d’Ivoire.
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