20-3-2024 (MANILA) Concerns arose on Wednesday as the Philippine Space Agency (PhilSA) disclosed the possibility of remnants from a Chinese rocket launch falling into waters off Ilocos Sur and Catanduanes.
According to PhilSA’s advisory, debris from the rocket was estimated to have landed within designated drop zones approximately 78 nautical miles from Vigan in Ilocos Sur, and further afield, 194 nautical miles and 332 nautical miles from Panay Island in Catanduanes.
Despite projections indicating that the debris would avoid inhabited areas, the agency highlighted the potential hazards posed to maritime traffic, including ships, aircraft, fishing vessels, and other crafts traversing the affected areas.
PhilSA also raised concerns about the possibility of debris drifting towards nearby coastlines and cautioned against potential risks associated with the remnants.
Furthermore, the agency did not discount the likelihood of uncontrolled re-entry into the Earth’s atmosphere of the rocket’s upper stages returning from outer space, emphasising the need for vigilance.
In light of the situation, PhilSA urged the public to report any suspected debris sightings to local authorities and advised against handling or approaching the materials due to potential contamination with hazardous substances, such as rocket fuel residues.
The development comes as China launched its new communications relay satellite, Queqiao-2, on Wednesday, marking another step in its lunar exploration endeavours. The Long March 8 rocket carrying the satellite took off from the launch site in Wenchang, Hainan.
