The Philippine Space Agency (PhilSA) warns against the likelihood of rocket debris falling into the waters near the Bajo de Masinloc and Cabra Island off Zambales province in the West Philippine Sea (WPS), posing dangers to aircraft and seacraft passing in the area.
The PhilSA said the debris would fall out from China’s latest rocket, the Long March 7, which was set off Jan. 17 evening at a spacecraft launching site in Wenchang, Hainan.
The agency said the debris would be discarded as the rocket enters space, and could pose danger to airplanes, ships and fishing boats that could be passing through the drop zone. The resulting flotsam could also be washed ashore to nearby villages.
The PhilSA also warned warns against retrieving or getting close contact to the debris which might contain toxic substances such as rocket fuel.
Last month, the PhilSA also reported that debris from another Chinese rocket, the Long March 3B, was projected to fall within drop zones 68 NM away from Rozul Reef and 116 NM away from Ayungin Shoal.
Long March 3B was launched from the Xichang Satellite Launch Center in Liangshan Yi Autonomous Prefecture, Sichuan, China on Dec. 26, 2023.
Details of the rocket drop zone were disclosed through a Notice to Airmen warning of an “aerospace flight activity.”
PhilSA has disseminated a pre-launch report to concerned government agencies and authorities prior to the launch.
The agency urged the public to contact local authorities if suspected debris were sighted.
