Last week, an empty rocket stage from three reconnaissance satellites launched by China burned up over Texas. The second stage of the Long March 2D rocket is back earth atmosphereWhen he flew over Texas on March 7, According to USNI News, referring to information received from the US Space Command. No debris was found on the ground at the time of the report, but such missile launches are not without risk.

According to USNI News, astronomer and space launch efficiency researcher Jonathan McDowell attributed the event to a China launch last year. Rocket Long Walk 2D launched from the Xichang Satellite Launch Center in southwest China on June 22 last year and successfully placed three Yaogan 35 (group 02) satellites into orbit at an average altitude of about 310 miles (500 kilometers) and an inclination of 35 degrees. first degree rockets The 135-foot-tall (41 meters) Long March 2D crashed to Earth within its estimated fall zone and entered second-stage orbit and deployed satellites.

The upper stages of rockets usually remain in orbit until they are pulled back to Earth by increased interactions with the planet’s atmosphere. In this case, the second stage sailed east. 269 ​​square feet (25 square meters) to increase resistance and turn a large piece space debris to Earth much faster than it would otherwise be.

McDowell said on Twitter that the rating such a launch He returned via Nepal a month later, three days after the incident in Texas.

The Yaogan 35 launch had an orbital sail attached to the upper stages of the CZ-2D rockets to enable their rapid return. The first re-entered over western Nepal on March 11, 1808 UTC, 3 days after re-entry over Texas, and the second after 225 days in space. 12 March 2023

Most objects burn on re-entry, and some launch providers switch to active de-orbit of upper stages shortly after payload release. But the large number of used rockets from historic launches means that hundreds of orbiting orbits have returned to Earth in unpredictable and controllable times and places. This problem of uncontrolled re-entry of rocket stages and satellites has been noted as follows: possible cause of loss and material damages if current international practice does not change.

In a statement released by the US Space Command, the USNI said the incident “reinforces the need for better international regulations for high-risk uncontrolled air intakes.” The better news in this case is that the scene is relatively quickly de-orbited, eliminating it as a potential source of dangerous collisions with debris that could affect the safe use of the orbital environment.