VIVA – Recently China launched the first module for the space station into orbit. However, the launcher that also reached that orbit would slowly and unexpectedly head back to Earth.
Varian rocket China’s largest, Long March 5B successfully launched the Tianhe module weighing 22.5 metric tons from Wenchang. Tianhe separated from the launcher core stage after 492 seconds of flying, immediately entered orbit.
Specifically designed to launch a space station module into low Earth orbit, the Long March 5B uses a four-sided core and amplifier stage to place its payload directly into low Earth orbit.
But the core stage is in orbit and will likely reenter uncontrollably over the next few days or weeks, as interactions with the atmosphere drag it to Earth.
If true, then it would be one of the largest examples of an uncontrolled re-entry of a spacecraft that could potentially land in an uninhabited area. Space News, Senin, 3 Mei 2021.
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