PhilSA warns of falling debris after latest rocket launch from China

MANILA, Philippines — The Philippine Space Agency (PhilSA) has warned communities in Puerto Princesa City in Palawan province against coming into close contact with suspected debris from a carrier rocket that China sent into space Friday morning.

PhilSA confirmed that China launched its “Long March-12” rocket at 7 a.m. from the Hainan International Commercial Launch Center in the province of Hainan. The rocket was projected to have dropped debris about 23 nautical miles (43 kilometers) off the coastline of Puerto Princesa and approximately 21 nautical miles (39 km) off Tubbataha Reefs Natural Park in Cagayancillo town.

These drop zones, PhilSA stressed, are well within Philippine archipelagic waters or the country’s exclusive economic zone.

The agency said it received a notice of an “aerospace flight activity” before the scheduled rocket launch and was able to notify concerned government agencies and authorities.

While the debris from the carrier rocket was not expected to fall on land or inhabited areas, PhilSA advised the public to immediately report any sightings to local authorities, noting that the materials may contain toxic substances.

READ: Falling debris feared as China launches rocket near Palawan

“Falling debris poses danger and potential risk to ships, aircraft, fishing boats, and other vessels that will pass through the drop zone,” PhilSA said in its latest advisory.

“There is also a possibility for the debris to float around the area and wash toward nearby coasts. Additionally, the possibility of an uncontrolled re-entry into the atmosphere of the rocket’s upper stages returning from outer space cannot be ruled out at this time,” it added.

According to Chinese state news agency Xinhua, the Long March-12, which measures 62 meters long and 3.8 meters wide, is considered China’s largest single-core carrier rocket in terms of payload capacity.

PhilSA detected similar activities involving the Long March-12 when it was also launched from Hainan in August and in November. /jpv