Daily TribuneA previously recovered part of the rocket was reported to have been seized by the China Coast Guard from the PCG, touching off statements of concerns from the Department of National Defense of the Philippines and Filipino lawmakers
Assisted by local fisherfolks, the Philippine Coast Guard successfully recovered a portion of suspected rocket debris near Subic, Zambales on 17 December 2022.
The recovery came a day after David Gervacio, captain of the Filipino fishing boat Akiyo, reported to the PCG via radio communication the sighting of a white cylindrical shaped object.
Believed to be rocket debris, the object was floating in waters approximately 55 nautical miles West of Subic, Zambales.
Upon receipt of the report, personnel from Coast Guard Station Zambales immediately responded and aided the crew in retrieving the said debris, the PCG said in a statement.
The recovered metal and plastic debris measured two meters long and four meters wide and is believed to be from a Long March 5b Rocket that was launched by China last 31 October 2022 from the Wenchang Space Launch Center in Hainan Province.
A previously recovered part of the rocket was reported to have been seized by the China Coast Guard from the PCG, touching off statements of concern from the Department of National Defense of the Philippines and Filipino lawmakers.
The rocket carried a research laboratory module to China's Tiangong Space Station.
In a public advisory on the day of the launch, the Philippine Space Agency alerted the public about the possibility of debris falling within two drop zones at approximately 39 nautical miles from Bajo de Masinloc and 21 nautical miles from Busuanga, Palawan.
A similar floating object was spotted by Gervacio and his crew on 16 November 2022 in waters approximately 38 nautical miles southwest of BdM but was unable to retrieve it due to its submerged status and size.
Coastal barangays and local fisherfolk are reminded that floating debris at sea are notable navigational hazards that may endanger the safety of vessels and crew.
