The Philippine Space Agency (PhilSA) has raised serious concerns about potential aviation and maritime accidents stemming from China’s rocket launched on Thursday morning.
In an advisory on Thursday, PhilSA said it expected debris from the Long March 38/E rocket to have fallen within identified drop zones estimated at 28 nautical miles (NM) from the Rozul Reef and 38 NM away from Patag Island.
Both areas are within the country’s exclusive economic zones in the West Philippine Sea.
The rocket was launched from the Xichang satellite center in Sichuan, China at approximately 9:50 AM on Thursday, PhilSA reported.
Details of the rocket’s drop zone were disclosed through a Notice to Airmen, warning of aerospace flight activity.
PhilSA had previously disseminated a pre-launch report to pertinent government agencies and authorities.
While unburned debris such as boosters and fairings are typically designed to be discarded as rockets enter outer space, they pose potential risks to ships, aircraft, fishing boats, and other vessels passing through the drop zone, PhilSA said.
“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 to the atmosphere of the rocket’s upper stages returning from outer space cannot be ruled out at this time,” it added.
PhilSA advised the public to report any suspected debris sightings to local authorities. It also warned against retrieving or coming into close contact with the materials, which may contain toxic substances like rocket fuel.
A similar warning was issued last May 3, concerning the Long March 5 rocket, which was launched from the Wenchang Spacecraft launch site in Wenchang, Hainan, China.
PhilSA identified its drop zones approximately 123 NM away from Bajo de Masinloc and 55 NM away from Panay Island in Catanduanes.