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On May 7, 2021, Dr. Ala’a Azzam, Assistant Professor in the Department of Physics at the University of Jordan, joined BBC Arabic in a live interview to discuss the widely publicized incident involving the uncontrolled re-entry of a Chinese rocket and the potential risks associated with its fall to Earth.

During the interview, Dr. Azzam provided a clear scientific explanation of the situation involving the Long March 5B rocket, which had been used to launch a module for China’s space station. She explained that the rocket’s core stage had entered an uncontrolled orbit after separation, leading to concerns over where it might land.

She noted that while the rocket was large, most of its components were expected to burn up upon re-entry into Earth’s atmosphere, significantly reducing the likelihood of any dangerous debris reaching populated areas.

Dr. Azzam emphasized that although such incidents often attract media attention, international space agencies closely monitor these objects, and major impacts are rare. She concluded by underlining the importance of public scientific awareness in responding to such events with calm and informed understanding.