Plunging back to earth: Chinese rocket set for re-entry

Debris from April 29 launch set to plunge back through the atmosphere in the next few hours.

Remnants of China’s largest rocket, launched last week, are expected to plunge back through the atmosphere in the coming hours, according to tracking centres in Europe and the United States. The 18-tonne main segment of the Long March-5B rocket that launched the first module of China’s new space station into Earth’s orbit on April 29 is now in freefall and experts have said it is difficult to say precisely where and when it will re-enter the atmosphere. China’s foreign ministry said on Friday that most debris would burn up on re-entry and was highly unlikely to cause any harm.