PhilSA warns vs China rocket launch debris

The Philippine Space Agency (PhilSA) on Friday warned the public about potential rocket debris from China’s recent Long March 5 rocket launch that may have fallen into waters off the coast of northern Luzon.

In a statement, PhilSA said that the People’s Republic of China launched the rocket at 10:31 p.m. Thursday from the Wenchang Space Launch Site in Hainan province.

Projections indicate that fragments from the rocket, including booster and fairing components, may have landed within designated “drop zones” in the West Philippine Sea.

The four projected drop zones are located approximately 93 nautical miles from Dalupiri Island, Cagayan; 69 nautical miles from Burgos, Ilocos Norte; 130 nautical miles from Camiguin Norte, Cagayan; and 116 nautical miles from Santa Ana, Cagayan.

PhilSA stressed that while the debris is not expected to fall on land or populated areas, it could still pose a hazard to ships, fishing vessels and aircraft operating near the projected sites.

“There is also a possibility for the debris to float around the area and wash toward nearby coasts,” the agency said.

It also cited that the possibility of an uncontrolled re-entry to the atmosphere of the rocket’s upper stages, returning from outer space, could not be ruled out.

Unburned components like boosters and fairings are typically jettisoned as rockets ascend into space, PhilSA said. However, uncontrolled debris re-entries from China’s space missions have previously raised environmental and safety risks in the region.

The agency urged the public to report any sighting of suspected debris to local authorities and refrain from handling or approaching the materials, as they may contain toxic remnants of rocket fuel or other hazardous substances.