Scientific American
The Long March 5b rocket’s core stage could plummet to Earth as early as May 9
May 6, 2021
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People watch a Long March 5B rocket, carrying China s Tianhe space station core module, as it lifts off from the Wenchang Space Launch Center in southern China s Hainan province on April 29, 2021. Credit: Getty Images
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The upcoming atmospheric re-entry of a Chinese Long March 5B rocket body is a reminder of a much larger problem, experts say.
The Long March 5B launched the core module of China’s space station into orbit on April 28. Now satellite and space debris monitoring groups are keeping a close eye on the big rocket’s core stage, which will fall to Earth in an uncontrolled manner soon. Leftover debris from its fiery fall could reach terra firma.