The uncontrolled return is scheduled for 2.24 on May 9, with a time window of the uncertainty of six hours. Civil Protection: “Better to stay indoors, away from doors and windows, and not in open places: it is unlikely that the fragments will cause buildings to collapse.”
A rocket in free fall and Italy on alert. Umbria, Lazio, Abruzzo, Molise, Campania, Basilicata, Puglia, Calabria, Sicily and Sardinia could be affected by the fall of fragments of the Chinese space rocket ‘Lunga marcia 5B’.
The return to earth forecast is set for 2:24 am on May 9. The window of the uncertainty of about 6 hours, forward or backward on the clock. The advice of the Civil Protection is to stay indoors and not in open places since “it is unlikely that the fragments cause the collapse of buildings.”
The return forecasts, notes the Civil Protection, will be subject to continuous updates because they are linked to the rocket’s behavior and the effects that the atmospheric density gives to falling objects and those related to solar activity. In the time interval considered, three trajectories could involve Italy.
A special technical team has been put together to monitor the return operations, providing analyzes and updates on the evolution of operations.
“Based on the information currently made available by the scientific community, it is possible to provide some useful information to the population so that it responsibly adopts self-protection behaviors.
It is unlikely that the fragments cause the collapse of buildings, which are therefore to be considered safer than in open places “.
The smaller fragments are unlikely to be visible from the ground before impact; some significant components could resist the impact. It is generally recommended that anyone who sees a component not to touch it, keeping a distance of at least 20 meters, and must immediately report it to the competent authorities.
