Retired astronaut, Nebraska native provides perspective on Chinese rocket debris reentry
"At NASA we say, 'We plan it. We train it. We fly it,''' Anderson says
"At NASA we say, 'We plan it. We train it. We fly it,''' Anderson says
"At NASA we say, 'We plan it. We train it. We fly it,''' Anderson says
Debris from the Chinese rocket Long March 5B reentered the Earth's atmosphere late Saturday night. At one point during its orbit, experts said the rocket's landing zone included much of the American continent.
Much of the debris burned up during reentry above the Indian Ocean near the Maldives, according to The Associated Press.
The rocket launched from China last week carrying the main module of China's new space station into orbit. Once its mission was complete the body dropped into low orbit and began circling the Earth. The mishap put the rocket into a position where it would crash land.
Nebraska native and retired U.S. astronaut Clayton Anderson worked with NASA for years and was part of multiple space missions.
"At NASA we say, 'We plan it. We train it. We fly it,'" Anderson said.
According to China's National Space Agency most of the 23-ton rocket measuring 10 stories tall burned up upon reentry. It made it one of the largest pieces of space junk to ever fall to the Earth.
Clayton said China is behind, but not new to space exploration.
"They put a space station up for a period of time. They did a five-minute spacewalk in that station," Anderson said. "With all the things that we've done and the Russians and other countries, that information is available to them to look at and learn from us."
Anderson said it was unlikely that the rocket would ever pose a threat to populated areas, but he said it's unusual that Chinese engineers didn't plan a landing area before launching into space.
"If you're going to build this big rocket and take it into space the idea is that you should prepare and plan to de-orbit this safely," Anderson said.