Chinese Long March 5B Re-Enters Over Arabian Peninsula

As much as by luck as by intent, a huge piece of discarded Chinese space debris, launched with little regard for what it might damage or who it may injure/kill, managed to come to Earth with no known damage (so far).

The US Space Command confirmed the Chinese Long March 5B re-entered over the Arabian Peninsula at approximately 10:15 p.m. EDT on May 8. It is unknown, however, if the debris impacted land or water. USSPACECOM does not conduct direct notifications to individual governments. The exact location of the impact and the span of debris, both of which are unknown at this time, will not be released by U.S. Space Command.

Heavily involved in this bit of space drama; the 18th SPCS at Vandenberg Air Force Base, California, is tasked with providing 24/7 support to the Space Surveillance Network. It tracks more than 27,000 man-made objects in space, the majority of which are in low-earth orbit. All debris can be potential threats to spaceflight safety and the space domain, and the 18th SPCS delivers front-line space defense and warnings to the global space community.

On the other hand, regardless of the lack of reported damage, no one seems pleased with China's careless approach to launching large hardware assemblies.

NASA Administrator Sen. Bill Nelson released a statement, Saturday, regarding debris from the Chinese Long March 5B rocket:

“Spacefaring nations must minimize the risks to people and property on Earth of re-entries of space objects and maximize transparency regarding those operations. It is clear that China is failing to meet responsible standards regarding their space debris. It is critical that China and all spacefaring nations and commercial entities act responsibly and transparently in space to ensure the safety, stability, security, and long-term sustainability of outer space activities.”

FMI: www.spacecom.mil, www.space-track.org, www.nasa.gov