Another 21-ton Chinese rocket crashes to Earth
Yet another out-of-control Chinese rocket sparked concern – a year after one of Beijing’s spacecraft rained debris over the Indian Ocean. Experts fear that part of the 21-ton Long March 5B rocket, which was launched into space on Sunday, may fail to burn completely as it re-enters Earth’s atmosphere. Then it will fall to the surface in an uncertain location and at high speed. Although the chances of debris hitting an inhabited area are very low, many experts think that China is taking an unnecessary risk. The country’s newest rocket was launched from the Wenchang launch site in the southern island province of Hainan over the weekend. The craft carries a new solar-powered laboratory, the Wentian experimental module, which will be added to China’s growing Tiangong Space Station. However, experts worry that part of the rocket’s core stage could fall to Earth – in a repeat of China’s launch last May that saw debris strewn across the Indian Oce...
