Philippines warned of debris as China launches rocket

MANILA, Philippines — The Philippine Space Agency (PhilSA) has warned of possible rocket debris falling from the sky and into the waters off the Philippine Rise and Panay Island in Catanduanes due to a rocket launched from China yesterday morning.

PhilSA confirmed that China again launched a Long March 4B rocket from its Xichang Satellite Launch Center in Liangshan Yi Autonomous Prefecture in Sichuan.

The launch reportedly occurred between 9:16 a.m. and 9:43 a.m. yesterday.

The agency said that debris from the rocket launch was projected to fall 243 and 318 nautical miles away from the Philippine Rise and Panay Island, respectively.

Details of the rocket drop zone were contained in a notice to airmen issued by the PhilSA about “an aerospace flight activity.”

The agency disseminated a pre-launch report to concerned government agencies and authorities. It said that unburned rocket debris such as the booster and faring are designed to detach and fall as the rocket enters outer space.

While these debris were not projected to fall on land masses or inhabited areas, these pose danger and risk to ships, aircraft, fishing boats and other vessels that are passing by the drop zone.

“There is also a possibility for the debris to float around the area and be washed ashore. The possibility of an uncontrolled reentry to the atmosphere of the rocket’s upper stages returning from the outer space cannot be ruled out at this time,” PhilSA said.

The public has been urged to report to authorities any sighting of suspected rocket debris.

PhilSA cautioned the public against retrieving or coming in close contact with these materials as these may contain remnants of toxic substances like rocket fuel.

On Aug. 22 and June 29, China launched its Long March 7A rockets.

The Philippine Coast Guard informed mariners about the rocket launch from China and advised them to take precaution when passing by the drop zone.