update: Early Sunday it's been confirmed that China's huge Long March 5B rocket made its out-of-control entry and plunged into the Indian Ocean Saturday night near the Maldives.
China's Manned Space Engineering Office sought to emphasize in an announcement that most of it burned up when it reentered the atmosphere before coming down somewhere west of the Maldives - the nation of archipelagic islands which lies southwest of Sri Lanka and India, some 700 kilometers off the Asian continent.
Map via BBC
US Space Command also confirmed it had reentered Earth over the Arabian Peninsula. NASA immediately blasted China for failing to "meet responsible standards" of space activity and operations. "Spacefaring nations must minimize the risks to people and property on Earth of re-entries of space objects and maximize transparency regarding those operations," NASA Administrator Sen. Bill Nelson in a statement published early Sunday.
"China is failing to meet responsible standards regarding their space debris," Nelson added.
Claimed observation from Oman which if genuine would imply the reentry was underway with impact over the Indian Ocean https://t.co/Ix6nqUv20d
— Jonathan McDowell (@planet4589) May 9, 2021
It's as yet unknown if any debris possibly fell on any part of the Maldives island chain, or if it was witnessed by inhabitants.
MNDF Central Area, Coastguard Squadron is active after receiving reports of rocket debris fallen in the Maldivian waters.
— Maldives National Defence Force (@MNDF_Official) May 9, 2021
Assuming the debris can be spotted anywhere on the ocean's surface, a recovery effort may be underway by the Maldives Coast Guard.
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