Debris From China’s Long March-5B Rocket Reportedly Fell in the Philippines

The Philippines was apparently hit by rocket debris that was used to launch a section of China's new space station.

China Successfully Launched a Laboratory Module Into Space

As previously reported, the 23-ton Wentian laboratory module was launched into orbit on July 24 at 2:22 a.m. ET (2:22 p.m. local time) from the Wenchang Space Launch Site in Hainan, China, using China's most potent rocket, the Long March 5B. At 3:13 p.m. ET (3:13 a.m. local), or nearly 13 hours later, it successfully connected to the Tiangong Space Station.

In April 2021, Beijing launched the Tianhe, the first module of the space station, into space. The Tiangong Space Station will take on a T-shape once the last module has docked. The entire T-shaped structure will be around one-fifth the size of the International Space Station when it is finished.

However, the problem lies after the rocket launch.

It was previously noted that there are considerable concerns about where the massive Long March 5B rocket may crash after delivering Wentian. In contrast to most others, this type of rocket safely releases its lower stages into the ocean below. It fires its entire first stage into low-Earth orbit to deliver its cargo, with no means of rerouting or modifying its course when it crashes to Earth.

China's Rocket Debris Hit Western Philippine Region

We have reported last week that according to estimates by Aerospace Corp., a federally funded nonprofit space research facility that monitors the reentry of orbital debris, the possible debris field covers the US, Australia, Africa, India, and Southeast Asia.

ABC News reported that the Chinese's rocket debris hit western Philippine region on Monday (Aug. 1).

Fortunately, there was no reported damage in the affected area.

Official from the Philippine Space Agency Marc Talampas said authorities have been told to keep an eye out for rocket debris that may have splashed down into the waters off the province of Palawan.

"We are monitoring the situation and have also issued an advisory to the public to be vigilant, avoid contact with any suspected floating debris and to report to local authorities immediately," Talampas told The Associated Press (via ABC News).

It should be noted that the Chinese Space Agency did not allegedly inform the Philippine Space Agency about the rocket debris.

This Is Not the First Time That China Allowed Rocket Stages To Fall to Earth Uncontrolled

ABC News noted that for permitting rocket stages to fall to Earth uncontrolled twice in the past, China has drawn a significant level of criticism. Following the landing of pieces of a Chinese rocket in the Indian Ocean, NASA allegedly accused Beijing of "failing to meet responsible standards regarding their space debris" last year.

Beijing confirmed that Tiangong-1, the nation's first space station, lost control and plummeted into the Pacific Ocean in 2016. In May 2020, an uncontrolled 18-ton rocket also dropped.

As pointed out in the previous report, to protect everyone on earth, space agencies control how rocket debris reenters the atmosphere. However, China's decision to not guide the rocket's debris has drawn criticism from NASA, especially given that China has previously done so.