The Philippine Space Agency (PhilSA) confirmed on Thursday night the launch of a Chinese Long March 5 rocket from the Wenchang Space Launch Site in Hainan, China, at around 10:31 p.m. (Philippine Standard Time), with expected rocket debris projected to have fallen within areas close to the country’s northernmost provinces.
In a statement, PhilSA said debris from the rocket would fall 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.
The drop zones were identified through a Notice to Airmen (NOTAM) issued by China ahead of the launch, warning of “aerospace flight activity” in the region.
PhilSA added that it had shared pre-launch advisories and risk assessments with concerned government agencies and local authorities before the event.
Unburned rocket debris, including components such as boosters and fairings, is designed to detach and fall back to Earth as the rocket ascends into orbit.
While projections indicate that the debris would not fall on land or inhabited areas, PhilSA warned that falling fragments could pose potential danger to passing ships, fishing vessels, and aircraft traversing the identified zones.
The agency also cautioned that some debris could remain afloat and eventually drift toward nearby coastal areas, and added that an uncontrolled re-entry of upper-stage rocket components returning from orbit remains a possibility.
“PhilSA reiterates its advice for the public to inform local authorities if suspected debris is sighted. 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 said.
