Only a 'remote chance' of Chinese rocket debris falling on Thailand
There is only a 1.4% chance of falling debris from a Chinese rocket affecting Thailand, the Geo-Informatics and Space Technology Development Agency (GISTDA) said on Thursday.
The GISTDA said that the Space Traffic Management System, or Zircon, has monitored and estimated the falling debris of the Chinese rocket, Longmarch 5B-Y4.
The piece is expected to fall to the Earth’s surface on Saturday and might affect Thailand because the object has passed over Thailand every day.
The GISTDA estimates that it would orbit some parts of Chiang Rai, Chiang Mai, Phayao, Nan, Nong Khai, Udon Thani, Kalasin, Roi Et, Yasothon, Amnat Charoen, and Ubon Ratchathani provinces on Thursday from around 1.54pm to 1.56pm.
According to the latest information, this space object’s orbit is around 177 kilometres on average above the Earth’s surface with a weight of 21.6 tonnes, but it is reducing as it falls through the atmosphere.
As for the falling area, the GISTDA said that it has to monitor closely and will be able to estimate accurately when the height is around 130 kilometres on average from the Earth's surface.
The operation of the rocket, Longmarch 5B-Y4, began on October 31 to connect the Mengtian module with Tiangong Space Station to support astronauts in scientific experiments and studies in physics, materials science, and space technology.
The GISTDA said there were low chances of the piece falling on Thailand, but the organisation will continue to monitor the situation and offer updates.
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