The remains of a Chinese rocket are likely falling back to Earth tomorrow, and there’s a remote chance some may strike one of 11 Thai provinces, according to the national space agency.
A 23-ton portion of China’s Long March 5B-Y4 launch vehicle has been in orbit and is expected to make an uncontrolled reentry, according to Geo-Informatics and Space Technology Development Agency.
There’s only a 1.4% chance debris could come down upon any of 11 provinces in the north and east, from Chiang Mai to Ubon Ratchathani. The odds of the debris striking anyone are infinitesimally small, and the odds are higher they will land in the open ocean.
Much of the module will burn up upon reentry.
Business Insider states that parts of the rocket, which is roughly the size of a 10-story building, will likely burn up upon reentry.
The vehicle launched Monday with the third and final component of China’s Tiangong space station: the Mengtian module, a laboratory for researchers to conduct experiments in zero gravity.
It marks the fourth time China’s 5B rocket has put the world on alert for uncontrolled remnants crashing in parts of the world.
The last incident occurred in July, when parts were found in Borneo as well as off the Philippines.
In 2020, parts of the rocket were found in two villages in the Ivory Coast. In 2021, rocket debris landed in the Indian Ocean among the Maldives.
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