China’s Yunhai 1-02 satellite is sent into orbit from the Jiuquan launch centre in the Gobi Desert in September 2019. The probe disintegrated in March. Photo: Xinhua
Chinese satellite that fell apart in March was hit by debris from a Russian rocket
- Twenty-one pieces broke off the weather probe and while signals are said to have been detected, it is not known if it is still functioning
- Astrophysicist says it was struck by objects from a rocket launched in 1996, and low-Earth orbit ‘will see an increased risk of collision’ in future
China’s Yunhai 1-02 satellite is sent into orbit from the Jiuquan launch centre in the Gobi Desert in September 2019. The probe disintegrated in March. Photo: Xinhua
