Metal suspected to be debris from a Chinese rocket was found falling in Sanggau Regency, West Kalimantan. US scientists' concerns were confirmed.
Two large pieces of iron, which are believed to be pieces of a rocket belonging to China, have reportedly fallen in Sanggau Regency, West Kalimantan (West Kalimantan). The National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN) team will also identify the object.
"Yes, we have secured it at the Sekayam Police, and tomorrow a team from BRIN will come to identify the debris," said Sanggau Police Deputy Chief Commissioner Novrial Alberti Kombo when contacted by us, Wednesday (3/8/2022).
Novrial admitted that he did not dare to confirm whether the two pieces of iron were Chinese rockets that fell to earth on Saturday (30/1).
"We have not dared to speculate about this object before there is an in-depth examination by the competent party," said Novrial
Novrial said the Jibom team and the KBR of the Gegana Detachment of the West Kalimantan Police Satbrimob had also examined the debris using Sertech and Riideye tools. This check is to ensure that the metal does not contain explosives or radiation exposure.
This finding confirms the concern of American scientists that debris from China's Long March 5B rocket fell out of control and could endanger the general public.
The rocket's 22-ton core stage crashed uncontrollably to Earth at the weekend. Most of the rocket burns in the atmosphere, but about 20-40% of the debris will fall to Earth.
Some of the rocket parts found were large enough to cause serious damage if they fell in residential areas. Luckily the wreckage fell in the open.
"No casualties or property damage were reported, but the debris is close to the village and a few hundred yards off could be a different story," said astrophysicist Jonathan McDowell of the Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics.
Usually, scientists in America arrange for a rocket to fall into the ocean. That's why China has been criticized for the Long March 5B rocket wreckage.
"All countries traveling to space must follow established standards, and do their job to provide this kind of information in order to provide accurate predictions of the risk of falling debris, especially for a large vehicle like the Long March 5B, with a huge risk of loss of life and building damage," said NASA Administrator Bill Nelson.