Nasa denounces China over 'irresponsible standards' after its rocket disintegrates over Indian Ocean

Nasa has slammed China for failing to meet "responsible standards" regarding its space debris.

American space agency Nasa on Sunday slammed China for failing to meet "responsible standards" regarding its space debris, hours after remnants of the country's largest and an out of control rocket disintegrated over the Indian Ocean near the Maldives.The debris from China's Long March 5B rocket re-entered the Earth’s atmosphere at 10.24 am Beijing time and fell into an open sea area at 72.47 degrees east longitude and 2.65 degrees north latitude, China's Manned Space Engineering Office said.Reacting to China's space programme, Nasa Administrator Bill Nelson said: "It is clear that China is failing to meet responsible standards regarding their space debris.”"Spacefaring nations must minimize the risks to people and property on Earth of re-entries of space objects and maximize transparency regarding those operations," he said in a statement. Also read: Who is controlling Nasa's Mars rover? Indian-origin scientist from his flat in London