The US Space Command “can confirm that the Long March 5B (CZ-5B) of the People’s Republic of China (PRC) re-entered the Indian Ocean at approximately 10:45 AM. MDT on 7/30,” the US military unit said on Twitter. “We refer you to #PRC for more details on the technical aspects of re-entry, such as possible debris dispersion + impact location,” it said. The Long March 5B rocket was used last Sunday to launch an uncrewed spacecraft, named Wentian, carrying the second of three modules needed by China to complete its new Tiangong space station. NASA Administrator Bill Nelson criticized Beijing on Twitter on Saturday, saying the failure to share details of the rocket’s descent was irresponsible and dangerous. Mr Nelson wrote: “All spaceflight nations should follow established best practices and do their part to share this type of information in advance to enable reliable predictions of potential debris impact risk, especially for heavy vehicles lifting vehicles, such as the Long March 5B, which pose a significant risk of loss of life and property.” He added: “This is critical to the responsible use of space and to ensuring the safety of people here on Earth.”
