PhilSA issues rocket debris warning

MANILA, Philippines — Another rocket debris warning was issued after China launched its Long March 12  rocket yesterday morning, the Philippine Space Agency said.

In an advisory, PhilSA identified the expected debris drop zone to be 29 nautical miles away from Puerto Princesa in Palawan and 20 NM away from the Tubbataha Reef Natural Park.

PhilSA said the Long March 12 was launched from the Hainan International Commercial Launch Center in Wenchang, Hainan at 10:42 a.m. yesterday.

Details of the rocket drop zone were disclosed through a Notice to Airmen to warn pilots of an “aerospace flight activity.” 

PhilSA had provided government agencies a pre-launch report as it warned the public against retrieving or coming in close contact with any debris as it may contain remnants of toxic substances, such as rocket fuel.

Meanwhile, authorities have launched a deeper investigation into the recovery of metallic debris in Barangay Pagali in Burgos, Ilocos Norte on Saturday.

The debris was recovered by a joint team from the 28th Marine Company, Philippine Coast Guard and Burgos municipal disaster risk reduction and management office after residents reported seeing large pieces of metal drifting near the coastline. 

Capt. Kerwin Collado, 4th Marine Brigade civil military operations chief, said the recovery was handled with caution due to potential safety risks associated with unidentified aerospace debris.