Nasa criticises China over uncontrolled rocket crash in Indian Ocean

Gulf Today Report

In a horrifying moment, an out of control Chinese rocket booster plunged back to Earth on Saturday afternoon.

The US Space Command said the uncontrolled re-entry was over the Indian Ocean.

According to an assessment from the Aerospace Corporation, when the rocket booster fell from orbit, Mexico’s populated Baja California peninsula was on path of the debris.

Experts said a break-up over the open ocean was the most probable scenario.

The 21-ton Long March 5B booster was launched on 24 July to deliver a new module to China’s Tiangong space station. But unlike a reusable rocket booster that can make a powered descent, such as the SpaceX Falcon 9, the Long March rocket was left to tumble out of control until its orbit naturally degraded and it fell back to Earth.

That fall took place around 12.45pm EDT Saturday, over the Indian Ocean near Malaysia, according to US Space Command.

On Saturday, a number of Twitter accounts began sharing videos of what could be the rocket breaking up over Malaysia, but it has not been confirmed if the video is actually showing the remains of the rocket.

Shortly after 2pm EDT Saturday, Nasa administrator Bill Nelson released a statement, by email and on Twitter, admonishing China for not providing better information on the projected reentry trajectory of their rocket.

Saturday’s reentry marks the third time China has let a rocket reentry the Earth’s atmosphere uncontrolled.