Debris from China's disintegrating rocket enters Earth's atmosphere
Beijing: China said on Sunday that the debris from its disintegrating Long March rocket has entered the Earth's atmosphere with most of its parts burned up during its uncontrolled re-entry.
The remnants of China's Long March 5B rocket re-entered the Earth's atmosphere at 10:24 am Beijing time, China's Manned Space Engineering Office said.
Most of the debris from the rocket burned up during its re-entry, the official media quoted the office as saying.
The rocket was used by China to launch a part of its space station recently.
While most space debris objects may burn up in the atmosphere, the rocket's size - 22 tonnes - has prompted concern that its large parts could re-enter and cause damage if they hit inhabited areas.
The rocket launched the first module of China's new Tianhe space station into Earth's orbit on April 29. Its 18-tonne main segment is now in freefall and experts have said it is difficult to say precisely where and when it will re-enter the atmosphere.
The U.S. Space Command's Space Track Project said in a tweet: "Everyone else following the LongMarch5B re-entry can relax. The rocket is down.
At around 100 feet tall and weighing about 22 metric tonnes, the rocket stage is one of the largest objects to ever re-enter the Earth's atmosphere on an uncontrolled trajectory.
Its re-entry prompted international concern about where it might land. Scientists said the risk to humans was astronomically low, but it was not impossible for it to land in an inhabited area.
The European Space Agency predicted a "risk zone" that encompassed much of the world, including nearly all of the Americas, all of Africa and Australia, parts of Asia and European countries such as Italy and Greece, The Washington Post said in a report.
Scientists have described China's decision as potentially hazardous corner-cutting.
"There's clearly a significant chance that it's going to come down on land, Jonathan McDowell, an astrophysicist at the Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics, told CNN on Saturday.
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Abu Dhabi residents receive emergency alerts on phones amid Iran strikes
UAE: Abu Dhabi residents and expatriates received emergency alerts on their mobile phones on Saturday, February 28 afternoon amid reports of explosions in the city, warning of “potential missile threats.”
Mobile phones across the UAE capital buzzed as the alerts were issued, prompting people to take immediate safety precautions.
The message, reportedly shared by the Ministry of Interior, read, “Due to current situation, a potential missile threats, Seek immediate shelter in the closest secure building, and to steer away from windows, doors, and open areas. Await for further instructions. (MOI).”
Several users took to X to share screenshots and videos of the alerts and the situation in the city. Multiple posts circulated online as people reacted to the warnings issued across Abu Dhabi.
Vartha Bharati could not independtly verify the alerts.
🚨🇦🇪 Emergency alert issued in Abu Dhabi, the UAE with Iranian missiles approaching
— {Matt} $XRPatriot (@matttttt187) February 28, 2026
💥💥💥💥💥💥💥💥 pic.twitter.com/nKPvE2Heid
🚨🇦🇪 BREAKING: Emergency alert issued in Abu Dhabi, the UAE with Iranian missiles approaching! pic.twitter.com/HctLmGfnYS
— Muhammad Ajmal (@mohammd_ajmal) February 28, 2026
🚨🇦🇪 Emergency alert issued in Abu Dhabi, the UAE with Iranian missiles approaching! pic.twitter.com/RKndgza4Td
— Sardar Saqlain Nahra (@SardarNahra) February 28, 2026
Emergency alert issued in Abu Dhabi, the capital of the United Arab Emirates. pic.twitter.com/gzmOU1lUuW
— NewsXVW (@NewsXVW) February 28, 2026
🇦🇪 BREAKING: The UAE government has issued an emergency alert to the it's citizens in Abu Dhabi. pic.twitter.com/UFXFjEvLn2
— GLOBE TONY (@globetony_) February 28, 2026
Breaking : Emergency Alert in Abu Dhabi 🇦🇪 pic.twitter.com/4ZwyFJ64sL
— lilly Gates (@lillygates_x) February 28, 2026
The alerts came hours after Iran on Saturday attacked Abu Dhabi and Dubai, Qatar’s Doha, and Saudi Arabia’s Riyadh, according to the information shared, following joint strikes conducted by Israel and the US on Iran.
