Space Debris from Chinese Rocket Reenters Atmosphere Over North America
other · May 2020 · North America atmosphere, Atlantic Ocean off Mauritania, Ivory Coast villages
Approximately 20 tons of space debris from a Chinese Long March 5B rocket launched on May 5, 2020, reentered Earth's atmosphere over North America. The debris eventually crashed into the Atlantic Ocean off Mauritania, with some smaller pieces reportedly falling in two Ivory Coast villages without causing injuries.
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Sources
- “20 tons of space debris from a Chinese rocket was tracked plunging through the Earth’s atmosphere above North America... It eventually crashed into the Atlantic Ocean off the coast of Mauritania. Some smaller pieces reportedly crashed into 2 Ivory Coast villages. There were no reports of injury.” — The Islands Grapevine – May 14th, 2020 (May 14th, 2020)
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