Interesting Items...

[Black Hole]

Huge rocket looks set for uncontrolled reentry following Chinese space station launch - SpaceNews

The Long March 5B rocket which launched China's first space station module Thursday is likely to undergo an uncontrolled reentry into the Earth's atmosphere in the coming says.

spacenews.com

 

[Wallace]

A very interesting read. Thank you BH.
It does really beggar belief that an intentional uncontrolled re-entry of something of this size/mass can be allowed.
The odds my be low of debris landing in a populated area, but sooner or later if this continues, someone will get killed.

 

[Black Hole]

It demonstrates the Chinese don't really care a stuff about anyone else, so long as the trajectory goes nowhere near their interests.

 

[Wallace]

Yes. I agree.

 

[prpr]

It does really beggar belief that an intentional uncontrolled re-entry of something of this size/mass can be allowed.

How do you propose disallowing something that is uncontrolled?

 

[Black Hole]

I'm sure there are international conventions on re-entry protocols, but (short of trade embargoes or war) very few means to enforce them.

 

[Black Hole]

OK, we're safe!

Big Chinese rocket segment set to fall to Earth

Tracking radars are following closely the gradual fall to Earth of a large Chinese rocket vehicle.

www.bbc.co.uk

 

[EEPhil]

OK, we're safe!

So it seems. Just hope the data presented on the site they used to produce the graphic is of a higher quality than the site itself. I could only see half the world. From that view either the sea or Africa could become a scrap yard.

 

[MikeSh]

OK, we're safe!

We knew that when it was launched. It's a 42° orbit.

(Apparently the Russians asked them if they would make it nearer 50, so if they had a collaboration on the station in the future they (Russia) would be able to reach it more easily as their manned launch spaceport is further north.
But it seems the Chinese don't want to play with anyone else at all. )

 

[MikeSh]

From that view either the sea or Africa could become a scrap yard.

Scott Manley has just published a video about this and some history (11 minutes).
For those interested: Why It's So Hard To Predict Where China's Latest Piece Of Space Junk Will Land