On April 29, the rocket was launched into space from China with building materials for the country's own space station project.
Since then, it has sunk unhindered towards the earth and is now in a low orbit around the earth.
It was clear this week that the rocket will make an uncontrolled entry into the Earth's atmosphere.
According to recent forecasts from Russian and US space authorities, the rocket is expected to reach the atmosphere between Saturday and Sunday, somewhere across the Indian Ocean.
Most of it will burn up, but there is a risk that parts of the rocket will reach the earth's surface intact.
According to previous estimates, the rocket would hit on Monday.
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20 tons of rocket out of control
USA: Will not shoot
On Thursday, US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin announced that the country has no plans to shoot down the remains of the Chinese rocket.
It is hoped that the parts, if they reach the earth, will land in the sea, reports Reuters.
- We have no plan to shoot down the rocket.
We hope that it lands in a place where it does not hurt anyone, the minister said at a press conference.
At the same time, he criticized the Chinese authorities.
- There should be requirements for working safely and thoughtfully for us who are active in space.
That such things are taken into account when planning and implementing.
Sweden off the track
Currently, the rocket travels at about seven kilometers per hour around the earth in an orbit that stretches from New York in the north to Chile in the south.
In other words, there is no risk of any parts falling over Sweden, which is outside its orbit.
One year ago, in May 2020, parts of a similar Chinese rocket fell over inhabited areas of Côte d'Ivoire, but no one was injured.