The Philippine Space Agency (PhilSA) said on Thursday that debris from a rocket launch from China possibly fell near Northern Luzon.
The Long March 6A rocket was launched from the Taiyuan Satellite Launch Center in Xinzhou, Shanxi Province at around 9 a.m. Philippine Standard Time (PhST).
In an advisory, the PhilSA projected the debris to have fallen around 83 nautical miles (NM) away from Dalupiri Island, Cagayan, 88 NM away from Babuyan Island, and 104 NM away from Burgos, Ilocos Norte.
PhilSA cautions the public against retrieving or coming in close contact with these materials that may contain remnants of toxic substances such as rocket fuel.
They are also advised to inform local authorities if suspected debris is sighted.
Unburned debris from rockets, such as the booster and fairing, are designed to be discarded as the rocket enters outer space.
Falling debris poses danger and potential risk to ships, aircraft, fishing boats, and other vessels that will pass through the drop zone, PhilSA said.
There is also a possibility for the debris to float around the area and wash toward nearby coasts.
‘Uncontrolled re-entry of large rocket upper stages pose growing hazards -not only to other spacecraft, but to civil aviation and to populations on the ground,’ PhilSA said.
It, thus, called on international partners to explore how the region can develop coordinated protocols and capabilities that protect both space assets and the people on the ground.