Steven Lee Myers and Kenneth Chang, The New York Times
Published: 07 May 2021 07:01 PM BdST
Updated: 07 May 2021 07:01 PM BdST The Long March-5B Y2 rocket, carrying the core module of China s space station Tianhe, takes off from Wenchang Space Launch Centre in Hainan province, China Apr 29, 2021. REUTERS
No, you are almost certainly not going to be hit by a 10-story, 23-ton piece of a rocket hurtling back to Earth. );
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That said, the chances are not zero. Part of China’s largest rocket, the Long March 5B, is tumbling out of control in orbit after launching a section of the country’s new space station last week. The rocket is expected to fall to Earth in what is called “an uncontrolled reentry” sometime on Saturday or Sunday.
This article was revised shortly after publication to reflect an updated forecast from The Aerospace Corporation.
No, you are almost certainly not going to be hit by a 10-story, 23-ton piece of a rocket hurtling back to Earth.
That said, the chances are not zero. Part of China’s largest rocket, the Long March 5B, is tumbling out of control in orbit after launching a section of the country’s new space station last week. The rocket is expected to fall to Earth in what is called “an uncontrolled re-entry” sometime on Saturday or Sunday.
Whether it splashes harmlessly in the ocean or impacts land where people live, why China’s space program let this happen again remains unclear. And given China’s planned schedule of launches, more such uncontrolled rocket re-entries in the years to come are possible.
In 1973, Buchli was assigned to a marine fighter attack squadron and sent to Thailand and, after completing that assignment, participated in the Marine Advanced Degree Program at the University of West Florida, in Pensacola, receiving his master s of science degree in aeronautical engineering systems in 1975. Buchli was then assigned to a fighter attack squadron in Beaufort, S.C., before attending the U.S. Naval Test Pilot School at Patuxent River, Md., in 1977.
While serving as a naval test pilot, Buchli submitted his application to become a NASA astronaut, having met all the basic requirements. He was a U.S. citizen, held a master’s degree in an engineering-related field, had flown over 1,000 hours in a jet aircraft and was in excellent physical condition. However, becoming an astronaut was still a long shot because for the 35 slots that were open, there were 8,000 applicants.