- #1
Jonathan Scott
Gold Member
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A big chunk of space hardware has fallen harmlessly in the north of Myanmar:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-37946718
From what it looks like, I'd say it's the remains of the second stage of the Long March 11 which China launched that day. The orbit was sun-synchronous and was probably around 98 degrees inclination, so it would be heading about 8 degrees West of South from the Jiuquan Launch Center, which would take it over Myanmar on the way up. Seems a bit careless to launch in a direction which will drop hardware on an inhabited area, especially in another country.
Edit: After a bit of Googling, found more pictures and a somewhat weirdly translated report: http://www.bestchinanews.com/Military/4038.html
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-37946718
From what it looks like, I'd say it's the remains of the second stage of the Long March 11 which China launched that day. The orbit was sun-synchronous and was probably around 98 degrees inclination, so it would be heading about 8 degrees West of South from the Jiuquan Launch Center, which would take it over Myanmar on the way up. Seems a bit careless to launch in a direction which will drop hardware on an inhabited area, especially in another country.
Edit: After a bit of Googling, found more pictures and a somewhat weirdly translated report: http://www.bestchinanews.com/Military/4038.html