May 2, 2024

NASA Releases Statement on Chinese Space Debris

A Long March-5B Y3 rocket launching from the Wenchang Spacecraft Launch Site on the coast of the southern island province of Hainan. Credit: China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation
Bill Nelson, NASA Administrator launched this statement Saturday, July 30 concerning debris from the Chinese Long March 5B rocket:
” The Peoples Republic of China (PRC) did not share particular trajectory information as their Long March 5B rocket fell back to Earth.
” All spacefaring nations should follow established best practices, and do their part to share this type of information beforehand to permit reliable forecasts of prospective particles impact threat, particularly for heavy-lift automobiles, like the Long March 5B, which bring a substantial threat of loss of life and residential or commercial property. Doing so is important to the accountable usage of space and to ensure the security of individuals here in the world.”

The video in the tweet listed below, which was recorded in Kuching, Malaysia, on the island of Borneo, appears to show the Long March 5B rocket debris bruning up in the atmosphere:

The following video, recorded in Kuching, Malaysia, likewise reveals the rocket debris.

meteor identified in kuching! #jalanbako 31/7/2022 pic.twitter.com/ff8b2zI2sw
— Nazri sulaiman (@nazriacai) July 30, 2022

Kuching Sarawak. meteor or apa pic.twitter.com/HJzN1zbOJ6
— hanifDaslepzz ➐ (@hanifDaslepzz) July 30, 2022

Space particles is a growing problem that is threatening the future space economy.