PhilSA issues China rocket debris warning anew

MANILA, Philippines — After China launched its Long March 5 rocket on Saturday night, the Philippine Space Agency or PhilSA issued a new rocket debris warning to advise people against approaching or retrieving debris from the spacecraft.

In an advisory, PhilSA estimated the debris drop zone to be 69 nautical miles away from Burgos in Ilocos Norte, 94 NM from Dalupiri Island in Cagayan, 117 NM from Santa Ana in Cagayan and 130 NM from Camiguin Norte, also in Cagayan.

PhilSA said the Long March 5 was launched from the Wenchang Space Launch Site in Hainan at 8:30 p.m.

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

PhilSA warns people in the drop zone vicinities against retrieving or coming in close contact with debris as these may contain remnants of toxic substances such as rocket fuel.