China has denied responsibility for a rocket set to crash into the moon next month.
Experts have said that the piece of space junk that is estimated to slam into the far side of the moon on March 4 likely came from Beijing's lunar exploration programme.
Also Read | Putin's recognition of Ukraine's rebels ups ante in crisis | Top developments
Astronomers earlier thought the object was a chunk of a SpaceX rocket that blasted off seven years ago and was abandoned in space after completing its mission.
But it is now believed to be the booster for the Chang'e 5-T1, launched in 2014 as part of the Chinese space agency's lunar exploration programme, news agency AFP has reported.
Also Read | Russia claims attack on its border post, Ukraine rubbishes it as fake news
China's foreign ministry rejected the claim on Monday, saying the booster in question had "safely entered the Earth's atmosphere and was completely incinerated".