Long March 5B booster reentry prediction still centers on evening of May 8th off coast of Australia
Click for full image.
Today’s most recent prediction by the Aerospace Corporation for the reentry of China’s out-of-control Long March 5B 21-ton core stage is still centered at 10:34 pm (Eastern) on May 8th, with a total uncertainty of 21 hours. As the company notes,
The prediction is currently holding steady for Saturday evening for the US, and the error bars are shrinking.
As shown on the map to the right, the centerpoint is just off the southwest coast of Australia. However, with a window 21 hours long, the booster could still come down in a large number of high population locations.
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Click for full image.
Today’s most recent prediction by the Aerospace Corporation for the reentry of China’s out-of-control Long March 5B 21-ton core stage is still centered at 10:34 pm (Eastern) on May 8th, with a total uncertainty of 21 hours. As the company notes,
The prediction is currently holding steady for Saturday evening for the US, and the error bars are shrinking.
As shown on the map to the right, the centerpoint is just off the southwest coast of Australia. However, with a window 21 hours long, the booster could still come down in a large number of high population locations.
Please consider donating to Behind the Black, by giving either a one-time contribution or a regular subscription, as outlined in the tip jar below. Your support will allow me to continue covering science and culture as I have for the past twenty years, independent and free from any outside influence.
Regular readers can support Behind The Black with a contribution via Patreon or PayPal. To use Patreon, go to my website there and pick one of five monthly subscription amounts, or by making a one-time donation. For PayPal click one of the following buttons:
If Patreon or Paypal don't work for you, you can support Behind The Black directly by sending your donation by check, payable to Robert Zimmerman, to
Behind The Black
c/o Robert Zimmerman
P.O.Box 1262
Cortaro, AZ 85652
I’m on the track where it crosses Cape Cod Maskachusetts. Fortunately my home insurance says I’m covered, but no response from my life insurer. I can’t believe it is the 21st century and we have to be concerned about this. China should be ejected from international organizations (though that should have happened in 1958 when they invaded Tibet, and many times since).
I am starting to wonder if China is simply trying to force the US to show their ASAT capability to deorbit this before it does damage.