A Chinese missile launcher returned to Earth unchecked on Saturday, US Defense Department officials said, reprimanding Beijing for failing to share information about the potentially dangerous object’s descent.
US Space Command “can confirm that the People’s Republic of China (PRC) Long March 5B (CZ-5B) re-entered the Indian Ocean on 7/30/MDT at approximately 10:45 am MDT,” the US military unit said on Twitter.
“We refer you to the #PRC for more information on the technical aspects of the return, such as possible debris dispersal + impact location,” it said.
The Long March 5B rocket was used last Sunday to launch an unmanned spacecraft called Wentian, carrying the second of three modules that China needed to complete. the new Tiangong space station.
NASA administrator Bill Nelson criticized Beijing on Twitter on Saturday, saying it was irresponsible and risky to share the details of the missile’s descent.
Mr Nelson wrote: “All space countries should follow established best practices and do their part to share this type of information in advance to enable reliable predictions of the potential risk of debris impacts, especially for heavy vehicles, such as the Long March 5B, who are at significant risk of loss of life and property.”
He added: “This is critical to the responsible use of space and to ensure the safety of people here on Earth”.