Chinese rocket debris may have fallen near Palawan, Tubbataha waters --PhilSA

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The Philippine Space Agency (PhilSA) on Thursday warned that debris from China’s Long March 12 rocket launch may have fallen in the Philippine archipelagic waters.

In an advisory, PhilSA said Chinese rocket debris was projected to have fallen in the following areas:

• 25 nautical miles from Puerto Princesa, Palawan
• 19 nautical miles from the Tubbataha Reefs Natural Park

According to PhilSA, the Long March 12 rocket was launched from the Hainan International Commercial Launch Center in Wenchang, Hainan at 8:32 a.m. on Thursday (Manila time).

The information on the rocket’s drop zone was released via a Notice to Airmen (NOTAM) to alert aircraft operators about the aerospace flight activity.

Prior to China's rocket launch, PhilSA circulated a pre-launch advisory to concerned government bodies and officials.

“As global launch rates continue to accelerate, debris shed during staging events and the uncontrolled re-entry of large rocket upper stages pose growing hazards—not only to other spacecraft, but to civil aviation and to populations on the ground,” PhilSA said.

“The Philippines invites international partners to explore how our region can develop coordinated protocols and capabilities that protect both our space assets and our people on the ground,” it added.

According to PhilSA, the fragments from the Chinese rocket are not expected to hit any landmass or inhabited areas.

However, PhilSA warned that the falling debris could endanger ships, planes, fishing vessels, and other craft that will traverse the drop zone.

Some debris may float around the area and be washed toward nearby shorelines, the agency added.

An uncontrolled re-entry of the rocket’s upper stages into the atmosphere from outer space is possible, according to PhilSA.

“PhilSA reiterates its advice for the public to inform local authorities if suspected debris is sighted,” the agency said.

“PhilSA also cautions against retrieving or coming in close contact with these materials that may contain remnants of toxic substances such as rocket fuel,” it added.—AOL, GMA News