Chinese rocket debris ‘likely fell’ in West Philippine Sea – PhilSA

A Long March 7 rocket, carrying China’s Tianzhou-2 cargo craft, lifts off from the Wenchang Space Launch Center in southern China’s Hainan province on May 29, 2021. (Photo by AFP) / China OUT / CHINA OUT

MANILA, Philippines — Debris from China’s Long March 7 rocket “likely fell” within several drop zones in the West Philippine Sea (WPS) following its launch early Tuesday morning, the Philippine Space Agency (PhilSA) said.

According to PhilSA, the debris was projected to have landed approximately 33 nautical miles from Bajo de Masinloc, 88 nautical miles from Cabra Island in Occidental Mindoro, 51 nautical miles from Recto Bank, and 118 nautical miles from Busuanga, Palawan.

READ: NDRRMC to public: Watch out for debris from China rocket

Chinese state media agency Xinhua reported that the Long March 7 Y10 rocket was launched at 5:34 a.m. from the Wenchang Space Launch Site in Hainan, China. It carried the Tianzhou-9 spacecraft, which has since docked with China’s Tiangong space station, the agency added.

Details of the drop zones were disclosed in a notice to airmen issued ahead of the launch, which warned of aerospace flight activity.

A drop zone refers to the estimated area where debris from a scheduled space object or high-powered rocket may fall.

Unburned debris, such as boosters or fairing components, is typically discarded as rockets exit Earth’s atmosphere. Although these fragments were not projected to land on inhabited areas or land features, PhilSA warned of potential risks to ships, aircraft, and fishing vessels in the vicinity.

“There is also a possibility for debris to float and wash toward nearby coasts,” PhilSA said, noting that it is still possible for parts of the rocket to fall from space.

PhilSA also advised the public to report any sightings of suspected rocket debris to local authorities and to avoid handling them, as they may contain hazardous materials such as residual rocket fuel./mcm/abc