Spacecraft and rockets falling back on Earth can prove catastrophic, scientists warn

In the wake of too many incidents of spacecraft and rockets crashing back to Earth and its debris falling in areas it shouldn't, scientists have warned that such incidents may cause someone's death in the years ahead.

Just in May, 56 'uncontrolled re-entries' were monitored by the UK Space Agency and the rate at which satellites and objects are falling back to Earth increased by 155 per cent in April.

Among these events, scientists have warned that there is a 10 per cent chance of someone getting killed in the next decade due to an out-of-control rocket or spacecraft.

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Speaking to MailOnline, the UK Space Agency's spokesperson said, "Since January, the UK has monitored an average of 23 re-entering space objects per month."

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"Statistically, debris from re-entering objects presents a low risk to both life and property because most of the Earth is covered by water and the majority of land is unpopulated," the spokesperson added.

"There are no recorded instances of serious injuries caused by re-entering space debris," he explained.

Meanwhile, astronomer at the Royal Observatory Greenwich Jake Foster said, "The vast majority of space debris that falls to Earth is so small that it burns up entirely in the atmosphere on its way down, posing no threat to human life."

"Since around 70 per cent of the Earth's surface is covered in water, most larger pieces that do make it down to the surface usually end up splashing down into the oceans," he added.

Space debris rains in India and China

The first such space debris falling on Earth was recorded in 1978 when the Soviet spy satellite Kosmos 954 crashed and the latest incident happened when the Chinese rockets re-entered this June.

The re-entry of Chinese Long March rocket systems caused a series of crashes. These multistage rockets were the Chinese space programme's workhorse and have been used frequently to launch satellites for civilian and military purposes.

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Some of these rockets undergo uncontrolled re-entry into the orbit of the Earth when the stages are jettisoned.

Although some of them burn up in the atmosphere, there have been reports of large pieces of rockets falling in areas aroundChinaandIndia.

In June, a piece of rocket had fallen on a populated village in rural China.

(With inputs from agencies)