Out-of-control China rocket debris caught on camera– fears mount over 2-hour crash warning

THERE are mounting fears over the impact of the Long March China rocket which is tumbling towards Earth after officials warned that there will only be a “two-hour warning” ahead of its crash time.

Out-of-control China rocket debris caught on camera– fears mount over 2-hour crash warning

By OLI SMITH

Footage has emerged of the Chinese Long March rocket which is falling back to Earth at a speed of 18,000 miles per hour – 25 times the speed of sound. US broadcaster CBS showed a clip of the space rocket that could be seen from Earth, as shot by a member of the public in Argentina. The Argentine Air Force later confirmed the object in the video was the Chinese Long March rocket.

This comes amid concern over the impending rocket crash due to take place this weekend.

Scientists warn that there will just be two-hours notice of the rocket’s impact.

Fox News host Neil Cavuto interviewed theoretical physicist Michio Kaku, who warned that “anywhere from New York City to New Zealand is in the cross-hairs of this rocket which is tumbling out-of-control”.

Mr Cavuto said: “The US Government insist there are no plans to try and shoot this thing down but you have to think behind the scenes they are thinking about the unthinkable.”

Mr Kaku added: “40 percent of the object will survive re-entry and make landfall.

“The chances are that it will hit water, given that is most of the Earth’s surface but inhabited areas cannot be ruled out.”

Earlier this week, the US Federal Aviation Administration warned it will “will send out an advisory to any facilities that would be impacted”.

The FAA added that “tactical decisions if needed will be made”.

The roughly 100-feet long object “can whip around the earth in just 90 minutes”.

China rocket: Expert discusses rocket booster ‘heading for Earth’

The latest predictions from astronomers is that the rocket’s core debris will fall back to earth around 5.19 am Sunday morning, UK time.

However, there is still a big window in precisely knowing when the rocket will fall back to earth, with experts admitting it could be eight hours before or after that.

China’s foreign ministry has recently released a statement saying that the risk of any harm from the falling rocket debris is “extremely low”.

US Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin said: “We’re hopeful that it will land in a place where it won’t harm anyone.

“Hopefully, in the ocean or someplace like that.”

The rocket, named Long March 5B, was launched from Wenchang Space Launch Centre on 29 April to carry Tianhe – the first module of China’s future space station – into orbit.

The spacecraft contains what will become living quarters for three crew on the space station and was the first of 11 missions needed to complete the station.

Originally published at Express