China has achieved a major milestone in reusable rocket technology with the successful land-based recovery of the first stage of its Zhuque-3 rocket.

The rocket launched at 7:35 a.m. Beijing time from the Dongfeng commercial space innovation pilot zone in northwest China. The first-stage booster returned to land as planned using deployable landing legs, marking China's first successful controlled land recovery of a rocket first stage.

The breakthrough follows China's earlier successful sea-based net recovery of the Long March-10B first stage on July 10.

The achievement represents a significant step forward in China's efforts to develop reusable launch technology, potentially helping reduce launch costs and increase the frequency of future space missions.

Watch the latest visuals and developments from China's rapidly advancing space programme.

China Successfully Recovers Reusable Rocket Booster on Land | Major Space Breakthrough

The mystery behind the moon crash on March 4, 2022, which left a double crater of about 29-metre width on the moon's far side, has now effectively come to an end. A team of astronomers from the University of Arizona identified it as the third and uppermost stage of China's Long March 3C rocket which had launched the Chang'e 5-T1 mission in October 2014.

Additionally, it has been revealed that the rocket was also carrying some "undisclosed, additional payload", according to the paper published in the peer-reviewed Planetary Science.

The first study was led by Tanner Campbell from the University of Arizona's Department of Aerospace and Mechanical Engineering, did trajectory and spectroscopic analysis based on ground-based telescope observations.&nbsp;

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/what-is-the-significance-of-change-5-less-than-2-billion-years-old-lunar-samples-419140">What is the significance of Chang'e-5 less than 2 billion years old lunar samples?</a>

Campbell and his team confirmed in a study published in the Planetary Science Journal that WE0913A was indeed the Long March 3C rocket body from the Chang'e 5-T1 mission.

<h2>Chinese officials contest the findings</h2>

Despite scientific confirmation, Chinese officials have contested the findings, and have claimed that the Long March 3C's upper stage burned up in Earth's atmosphere after the Chang'e 5-T1 launch.&nbsp;

However, the US&nbsp;Space Command has stood by the University of Arizona's claim, stating that the object never re-entered Earth's atmosphere.

<h2>What do we know about that 29-metre-wide moon crater?</h2>

The study also delves into the distinctive crater resulting from the moon crash.&nbsp;

Researchers compared the light curve of the Chinese rocket with thousands of simulated space objects and revealed specific characteristics.&nbsp;

Also watch |&nbsp;China's Chang'e 6 lunar mission: China to help Pakistan launch ICUBE-Q Cubesat satellite

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The object's stable tumbling behaviour suggests a dumbbell-like structure, possibly attributed to the considerable mass at each end, such as the upper stage's two engines.

Campbell noted the unprecedented occurrence of a double crater, emphasizing the need for two roughly equal masses apart from each other. The mystery surrounding the additional mass remains, with speculations about its nature and purpose. Campbell concluded, "We probably won't ever know."

The mystery behind the moon crash on March 4, 2022, which left a double crater of about 29-metre width on the moon's far side, has now effectively come to an end.

The mystery behind the moon crash on March 4, 2022, which left a double crater of about 29-metre width on the moon's far side, has now effectively come to an end. A team of astronomers from the University of Arizona identified it as the third and uppermost stage of China's Long March 3C rocket which had launched the Chang'e 5-T1 mission in October 2014. Additionally, it has been revealed that the rocket was also carrying some "undisclosed, additional payload", according to the paper published in the peer-reviewed Planetary Science. The first study was led by Tanner Campbell from the University of Arizona's Department of Aerospace and Mechanical Engineering, did trajectory and spectroscopic analysis based on ground-based telescope observations. Also read | What is the significance of Chang'e-5 less than 2 billion years old lunar samples? Campbell and his team confirmed in a study published in the Planetary Science Journal that WE0913A was indeed the Long March 3C rocket body from the Chang'e 5-T1 mission. Chinese officials contest the findings Despite scientific confirmation, Chinese officials have contested the findings, and have claimed that the Long March 3C's upper stage burned up in Earth's atmosphere after the Chang'e 5-T1 launch. However, the US Space Command has stood by the University of Arizona's claim, stating that the object never re-entered Earth's atmosphere. What do we know about that 29-metre-wide moon crater? The study also delves into the distinctive crater resulting from the moon crash. Researchers compared the light curve of the Chinese rocket with thousands of simulated space objects and revealed specific characteristics. Also watch | China's Chang'e 6 lunar mission: China to help Pakistan launch ICUBE-Q Cubesat satellite × The object's stable tumbling behaviour suggests a dumbbell-like structure, possibly attributed to the considerable mass at each end, such as the upper stage's two engines. Campbell noted the unprecedented occurrence of a double crater, emphasizing the need for two roughly equal masses apart from each other. The mystery surrounding the additional mass remains, with speculations about its nature and purpose. Campbell concluded, "We probably won't ever know."

Chinese rocket with 'undisclosed payload' banged into Moon to create wide craters, scientists say

Debris from out-of-control Chinese rocket is headed to earth and the crash is expected on Saturday or Sunday. Meanwhile, no one knows where the crash will unfold.

WION Fineprint: Out-of-control Chinese rocket's debris to crash on Earth

China said on Wednesday (July 27) that it is closely monitoring the latest piece of big Chinese space junk that will fall back on Earth. Experts are concerned as they are not sure where exactly it will land. Although, they have estimated the re-entry to happen around the end of the month, probably on July 31 at 02:22 UTC ± 17 hours.&nbsp;

China Manned Space Agency said that only small parts of the Tianzhou-3 ship survived to fall safely Wednesday into a predetermined area of the South Pacific.&nbsp;

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/soot-and-other-burned-biomass-from-western-wildfires-can-influence-arctic-sea-ice-501557">Soot and other burned biomass from Western wildfires can influence Arctic sea ice</a>&nbsp;

Meanwhile, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Zhao Lijian on Wednesday rejected such concerns. During a daily briefing, he said: "Since the development stage of the space engineering program, China has taken into consideration the debris mitigation and return from orbit into atmosphere of missions involving rocket carriers and satellite sent into orbit."&nbsp;

"It is understood that this type of rocket adopts a special technical design that most of the components will be burnt up and destroyed during the reentry process. The possibility of causing damage to aviation activities or on the ground is extremely low," Zhao said.&nbsp;

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/student-built-azaadisat-to-be-co-passenger-on-isros-maiden-launch-of-sslv-rocket-501487">Student-built 'AzaadiSAT' to be co-passenger on ISRO's maiden launch of SSLV rocket</a>&nbsp;

The mentioned rocket junk is roughly 21-tonne. It was part of the Wentian space station module launched on Sunday. A Long March 5B (CZ-5B) rocket propelled the uncrewed Wentian spacecraft from the Wenchang launch centre on China’s tropical island of Hainan.&nbsp;

The re-entry path of the rocket body from the CZ-5B launch is been tracked by The Aerospace Corporation’s Center for Orbital Reentry and Debris Studies (CORDS).&nbsp;

And as per the researchers at The Aerospace Corporation, "There is a non-zero probability of the surviving debris landing in a populated area—over 88 percent of the world's population lives under the reentry's potential debris footprint."&nbsp;

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China said on Wednesday (July 27) that it is closely monitoring the latest piece of big Chinese space junk that will fall back on Earth. Experts are concerned as they are not sure where exactly it will land.

China said on Wednesday (July 27) that it is closely monitoring the latest piece of big Chinese space junk that will fall back on Earth. Experts are concerned as they are not sure where exactly it will land. Although, they have estimated the re-entry to happen around the end of the month, probably on July 31 at 02:22 UTC ± 17 hours. China Manned Space Agency said that only small parts of the Tianzhou-3 ship survived to fall safely Wednesday into a predetermined area of the South Pacific. ALSO READ | Soot and other burned biomass from Western wildfires can influence Arctic sea ice Meanwhile, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Zhao Lijian on Wednesday rejected such concerns. During a daily briefing, he said: "Since the development stage of the space engineering program, China has taken into consideration the debris mitigation and return from orbit into atmosphere of missions involving rocket carriers and satellite sent into orbit." "It is understood that this type of rocket adopts a special technical design that most of the components will be burnt up and destroyed during the reentry process. The possibility of causing damage to aviation activities or on the ground is extremely low," Zhao said. ALSO READ | Student-built 'AzaadiSAT' to be co-passenger on ISRO's maiden launch of SSLV rocket The mentioned rocket junk is roughly 21-tonne. It was part of the Wentian space station module launched on Sunday. A Long March 5B (CZ-5B) rocket propelled the uncrewed Wentian spacecraft from the Wenchang launch centre on China’s tropical island of Hainan. The re-entry path of the rocket body from the CZ-5B launch is been tracked by The Aerospace Corporation’s Center for Orbital Reentry and Debris Studies (CORDS). And as per the researchers at The Aerospace Corporation, "There is a non-zero probability of the surviving debris landing in a populated area—over 88 percent of the world's population lives under the reentry's potential debris footprint." WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

China closely monitoring uncontrolled debris from rocket. It could hit Earth within days

Experts have predicted that the latest piece of big Chinese space junk will fall back to Earth but are not sure where exactly it will land. The re-entry will be around the end of the month, probably on July 31 at 02:22 UTC ± 17 hours.

Experts have predicted that the latest piece of big Chinese space junk will fall back to Earth but are not sure where exactly it will land. The re-entry will be around the end of the month, probably on July 31 at 02:22 UTC ± 17 hours. The mentioned rocket is roughly 21-tonne and was part of the Wentian space station module. It was launched on Sunday and docked successfully with the Tiangong space station. A Long March 5B (CZ-5B) rocket propelled the uncrewed Wentian spacecraft from the Wenchang launch centre on China’s tropical island of Hainan. The re-entry path of the rocket body from the CZ-5B launch is been tracked by The Aerospace Corporation’s Center for Orbital Reentry and Debris Studies (CORDS). ALSO READ | Some pits on the Moon have temperatures comfortable for humans, NASA finds Is it concerning? It appeared to be concerning as experts have claimed that they are not sure where the debris will land. Holger Krag, the head of the Space Safety Program Office for the European Space Agency, told SpaceNews: “It is always difficult to assess the amount of surviving mass and number of fragments without knowing the design of the object, but a reasonable ‘rule-of-thumb’ is about 20-40 per cent of the original dry mass.” Jonathan McDowell, who is an astronomer at the Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics, said in a tweet: “It will break up, but past experience shows that a bunch of 30-metre-long [100 foot] metal fragments will end up crashing into the ground at a few hundred km/hr.” ALSO READ | Why NASA is being pressured to change James Webb space telescope's name McDowell also said that the core stage was not actively deorbited although it is not clear when or when the spent rocket would crash. In a mail to Gizmodo, McDowell said, “Unfortunately we can’t predict when or where. Such a large rocket stage should not be left in orbit to make an uncontrolled re-entry; the risk to the public is not huge, but it is larger than I am comfortable with.” WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Experts say a big Chinese rocket body will fall to Earth around THIS date. Read why it is concerning

Debris from a Chinese rocket is headed towards Earth. It could crash early next week, but no one knows where. Debris from the same rocket has crashed on earth once in 2020 & again in 2021. Palki Sharma asks: Why is China so irresponsible?

Gravitas: Out-of-control Chinese rocket to crash on earth

A large segment of a&nbsp;Chinese&nbsp;rocket&nbsp;is expected to make an&nbsp;uncontrolled&nbsp;re-entry&nbsp;into the&nbsp;Earth's atmosphere on the weekend, but Beijing has downplayed fears and said there is a very low risk of any damage.

A Long March-5B&nbsp;rocket&nbsp;launched the first module of China's new space station into Eart orbit on April 29. Its 18-tonne main segment is now in freefall and experts have said it is difficult to say precisely where and when it will re-enter the atmosphere.

Re-entry&nbsp;is expected to be around 2300 GMT on Saturday, according to the Pentagon, with a window of plus or minus nine hours either side.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="China says 'extremely low' risk of damage from rocket debris">China says 'extremely low' risk of damage from rocket debris</a>

Chinese&nbsp;authorities have said most of the&nbsp;rocket&nbsp;components would likely be destroyed on&nbsp;re-entry.

"The probability of causing harm... on the ground is extremely low,"&nbsp;Chinese&nbsp;foreign ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin told reporters on Friday.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-closely-tracking-uncontrolled-chinese-rocket-re-entering-atmosphere-pentagon-383094">US closely tracking uncontrolled Chinese rocket re-entering atmosphere: Pentagon</a>

Although there has been fevered speculation over exactly where the&nbsp;rocket&nbsp;-- or parts of it -- will land, there is a good chance any debris that does not burn up will just splash down into the ocean on a planet made up of 70 percent water.

"We're hopeful that it will land in a place where it won't harm anyone," said Pentagon spokesman Mike Howard.

Howard said the United States was tracking the&nbsp;rocket&nbsp;segment but "its exact entry point into the&nbsp;Earth's atmosphere cannot be pinpointed until within hours of its&nbsp;re-entry".

Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin earlier said that the US military had no plans to shoot it down, and suggested that China had been negligent in letting it fall out of orbit.

"Given the size of the object, there will necessarily be big pieces left over," said Florent Delefie, an astronomer at the Paris-PSL Observatory.

"The chances of debris landing on an inhabited zone are tiny, probably one in a million."

In 2020, debris from another Long March&nbsp;rocket&nbsp;fell on villages in the Ivory Coast, causing structural damage but no injuries or deaths.

A large segment of a Chinese rocket is expected to make an uncontrolled re-entry into the Earth's atmosphere on the weekend, but Beijing has downplayed fears and said there is a very low risk of any damage.

A large segment of a Chinese rocket is expected to make an uncontrolled re-entry into the Earth's atmosphere on the weekend, but Beijing has downplayed fears and said there is a very low risk of any damage. A Long March-5B rocket launched the first module of China's new space station into Eart orbit on April 29. Its 18-tonne main segment is now in freefall and experts have said it is difficult to say precisely where and when it will re-enter the atmosphere. Re-entry is expected to be around 2300 GMT on Saturday, according to the Pentagon, with a window of plus or minus nine hours either side. Also read | China says 'extremely low' risk of damage from rocket debris Chinese authorities have said most of the rocket components would likely be destroyed on re-entry. "The probability of causing harm... on the ground is extremely low," Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin told reporters on Friday. Also read | US closely tracking uncontrolled Chinese rocket re-entering atmosphere: Pentagon Although there has been fevered speculation over exactly where the rocket -- or parts of it -- will land, there is a good chance any debris that does not burn up will just splash down into the ocean on a planet made up of 70 percent water. "We're hopeful that it will land in a place where it won't harm anyone," said Pentagon spokesman Mike Howard. Howard said the United States was tracking the rocket segment but "its exact entry point into the Earth's atmosphere cannot be pinpointed until within hours of its re-entry". Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin earlier said that the US military had no plans to shoot it down, and suggested that China had been negligent in letting it fall out of orbit. "Given the size of the object, there will necessarily be big pieces left over," said Florent Delefie, an astronomer at the Paris-PSL Observatory. "The chances of debris landing on an inhabited zone are tiny, probably one in a million." In 2020, debris from another Long March rocket fell on villages in the Ivory Coast, causing structural damage but no injuries or deaths.

Chinese rocket to tumble back to Earth in uncontrolled re-entry

The Pentagon is fully aware of and is tracking the uncontrolled entry of the Chinese rocket into the atmosphere this weekend, a spokesman has announced.

On Thursday, China launched the first of the three elements for its space station, the CSS. This was powered by the Long March 5B rocket, which is now being tracked by the Pentagon.

Pentagon spokesman John Kirby said the US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin is "aware and he knows the space command is tracking, literally tracking this rocket debris".

Also read |<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/international-space-station-astronauts-splashdown-off-florida-on-spacex-craft-382170">&nbsp;International Space Station astronauts splashdown off Florida on SpaceX craft</a>

The rocket is supposed to enter back into the atmosphere around Saturday with an almost intact body while coming down.

Experts have revealed that after the rocket was separated from the space station module, the rocket began to orbit the Earth in an uncharted and irregular trajectory and it slowly lost its altitude. This made it almost impossible to make any predictions about where, when, and how will it re-enter the atmosphere or where will it hit the ground.

There is also a possibility that the rocket might break apart upon its re-entry into the atmosphere. In such a case, only small debris of the broken rocket might land on the Earth. However, another possibility is also that the rocket, if it does not break, makes a splash in an ocean.

"We're tracking it. We're following it as closely as we can," Kirby said. "It's just a little too soon right now to know where it's going to go or what, if anything, can be done about that."

The Pentagon is fully aware of and is tracking the uncontrolled entry of the Chinese rocket into the atmosphere this weekend, a spokesman has announced. On Thursday, China launched the first of the three elements for its space station, the CSS.

The Pentagon is fully aware of and is tracking the uncontrolled entry of the Chinese rocket into the atmosphere this weekend, a spokesman has announced. On Thursday, China launched the first of the three elements for its space station, the CSS. This was powered by the Long March 5B rocket, which is now being tracked by the Pentagon. Pentagon spokesman John Kirby said the US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin is "aware and he knows the space command is tracking, literally tracking this rocket debris". Also read | International Space Station astronauts splashdown off Florida on SpaceX craft The rocket is supposed to enter back into the atmosphere around Saturday with an almost intact body while coming down. Experts have revealed that after the rocket was separated from the space station module, the rocket began to orbit the Earth in an uncharted and irregular trajectory and it slowly lost its altitude. This made it almost impossible to make any predictions about where, when, and how will it re-enter the atmosphere or where will it hit the ground. There is also a possibility that the rocket might break apart upon its re-entry into the atmosphere. In such a case, only small debris of the broken rocket might land on the Earth. However, another possibility is also that the rocket, if it does not break, makes a splash in an ocean. "We're tracking it. We're following it as closely as we can," Kirby said. "It's just a little too soon right now to know where it's going to go or what, if anything, can be done about that."

US closely tracking uncontrolled Chinese rocket re-entering atmosphere: Pentagon

A big chunk of rocket debris, possibly weighing tonnes, is falling back to Earth and could touch down in a few weeks.&nbsp;

The debris we are mentioning is from Long March 5B that China recently launched as part of its first module for a proposed space station.&nbsp;

Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/china-launches-first-module-for-new-space-station-381270">China launches first module for new space station</a>

The incident comes approximately a year after another Chinese rocket fell to Earth as it found itself in the Atlantic Ocean before shedding debris in the African nation of Cote D'Ivoire.

"It's potentially not good," Jonathan McDowell, astrophysicist at the Astrophysics Center at Harvard University, was quoted as saying by The Guardian.

"Last time they launched a Long March 5B rocket they ended up with big long rods of metal flying through the sky and damaging several buildings in the Ivory Coast."

Also read | <a href="http://wionews.com/science/this-collision-may-increase-space-debris-around-earth-by-20-per-cent-335641">This collision may increase space debris around Earth by 20 per cent</a>

"Most of it burned up, but there were these enormous pieces of metal that hit the ground. We are very lucky no one was hurt."

Since the weekend, the massive piece has dropped about 80 km in altitude and SpaceNews reported that amateur ground observations suggested it was tumbling in an uncontrolled manner.&nbsp;

This, and its speed, makes it impossible to forecast where it will land when Earth’s atmosphere eventually drags it down, though McDowell believes most likely it will fall into the water as the ocean covers about 71 per cent of the planet.

 
&nbsp;

A big chunk of rocket debris, possibly weighing tonnes, is falling back to Earth and could touch down in a few weeks. The debris we are mentioning is from Long March 5B that China recently launched as part of its first module for a proposed space station.

A big chunk of rocket debris, possibly weighing tonnes, is falling back to Earth and could touch down in a few weeks. The debris we are mentioning is from Long March 5B that China recently launched as part of its first module for a proposed space station. Also read | China launches first module for new space station The incident comes approximately a year after another Chinese rocket fell to Earth as it found itself in the Atlantic Ocean before shedding debris in the African nation of Cote D'Ivoire. "It's potentially not good," Jonathan McDowell, astrophysicist at the Astrophysics Center at Harvard University, was quoted as saying by The Guardian. "Last time they launched a Long March 5B rocket they ended up with big long rods of metal flying through the sky and damaging several buildings in the Ivory Coast." Also read | This collision may increase space debris around Earth by 20 per cent "Most of it burned up, but there were these enormous pieces of metal that hit the ground. We are very lucky no one was hurt." Since the weekend, the massive piece has dropped about 80 km in altitude and SpaceNews reported that amateur ground observations suggested it was tumbling in an uncontrolled manner. This, and its speed, makes it impossible to forecast where it will land when Earth’s atmosphere eventually drags it down, though McDowell believes most likely it will fall into the water as the ocean covers about 71 per cent of the planet.

Concerns mount as giant chunk of Chinese rocket is falling to Earth

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