News

As Chinese Rocket, Long March 5B, Falls Back To Earth, Concern Rises Over Possible Debris Damage

A huge Chinese Rocket, Long March 5B, is falling back to Earth, as space experts say its debris could land around 11:30 p.m. Saturday if the rocket doesn’t burn up on its way.

The Long March 5B rocket, 100-feet tall and weighs 22 tons, is reportedly out of control and falling at 18,000 miles an hour.

According to the European Space Agency, the risk zone, which the debris might fall, is between “41.5N and 41.5S,” which s New York, Africa and Australia, parts of Asia and Europe.

“The risk that there will be some damage or that it would hit someone is pretty small – not negligible, it could happen – but the risk that it will hit you is incredibly tiny, ” Jonathan McDowell, an astrophysicist at Harvard University, said.

Subscribe to our free weekly newsletter!

A week of political news in your in-box.
We find the news you need to know, so you don't have to.

“And so I would not lose one second of sleep over this on a personal threat basis.”

McDowell, however, also predicted that the debris, if it comes down to the earth, is likely to land on the Pacific “because Pacific is most of the Earth.”

Earlier this week, Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin has said that the U.S. currently has no plan to shoot down the rocket as he predicts the debris will land somewhere safe.

“We have the capability to do a lot of things, but we don’t have a plan to shoot it down as we speak,” said Austin Thursday.

Austin criticized China for its poor control of the situation.

“I think this speaks to the fact that for those of us who operate in the space domain, there should be a requirement to operate in a safe and thoughtful mode,” he said

Dongyoon Shin

Recent Posts

VIDEO: Trump Watches SpaceX Launch Alongside Elon Musk & Ted Cruz

https://youtube.com/shorts/YVrfbMZSVRE?feature=share US President-elect Donald Trump drew cheers as he arrived in Texas on Nov. 19 to watch…

2 days ago

Foreign Policy Experts Voice Concern About Trump’s Nomination Of Tulsi Gabbard For Director Of National Intelligence

After President-elect Donald Trump selected Tulsi Gabbard, a former Democratic congresswoman, as his nominee for…

3 days ago

Trump’s Pick Of Vaccine-Skeptic Robert F. Kennedy Jr. As Department of Health & Human Services Secretary Alarms Scientific Community

President-elect Donald Trump's announcement that Robert F. Kennedy Jr. will be his pick for Department…

4 days ago

VIDEO: President-Elect Donald Trump, Elon Musk & Cabinet Picks Attend UFC Fight In NYC, Crowd Chants “USA”

https://youtube.com/shorts/6CUvTmS87UM?feature=share President-elect Donald Trump arrived to cheers at an Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) event in…

4 days ago

Trump Pick Of Matt Gaetz For Attorney General Sends Shock Waves Through Capitol

President-elect Donald Trump's nomination of former Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-Florida) as his attorney general has sent shockwaves through…

5 days ago

VIDEO: Fights Break Out In Stand During France-Israel Match

https://youtube.com/shorts/TD8RNJl-NBk A fight broke out in one of the stands at the Stade de France…

5 days ago