By 
August 6th, 2025
Long March-12 in preparation for launch.
Image credit: CCTV/Inside Outer Space screengrab
It has been a one-two punch as the Philippine Space Agency had to alarm citizens regarding China-launched rocket debris fell into local waters.
This new incident involved the “estimated drop zone” of China’s Long March-12 rocket that was lofted from the Hainan commercial spacecraft launch site in the southern island province of Hainan on Monday.
That sendoff lobbed a group of internet satellites into space, just five days following the launch of a Long March-8A rocket from the same site, also stirring up worries by the Philippine Space Agency.
Act responsibly
On August 4, 2025 Philippine authorities cautioned the public to avoid any contact with suspected rocket debris that may have fallen off the waters of Palawan province.
Estimated drop zone of the Long March-12 Launch.
Image credit: Philippine Space Agency
The Philippines have been on the receiving end of a fall of debris from Chinese rocket launchings into its waters. They are urging spacefaring nations to act responsibly and safeguard the interests of other states.
In a press briefing on Tuesday, Presidential Communications Office Undersecretary and Palace Press Officer Claire Castro read the Department of Foreign Affairs’ (DFA) official statement on the August 4 launch of China’s Long March-12 rocket, which left debris within Philippine maritime territory.
Post-launch effects
“The Philippines takes this opportunity to urge all spacefaring states to conduct their space activities in a manner consistent with norms of responsible behavior and with due regard to the rights of interest of other states,” Castro quoted DFA Secretary Ma. Theresa Lazaro as saying.
Lazaro has noted that under the 2023 agreement between President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. and Chinese President Xi Jinping, both countries committed to maintain appropriate communication mechanisms in handling rocket launches and their post-launch effects.
Philippine Space Agency (PhilSA) Deputy Director General Gay Jane Perez reportedly assessed the incident and found the debris drop zone “medyo malapit nga po” (somewhat close) to Philippine territory.
Image credit: Philippine Space Agency
Leftover rocket parts
Details of the estimated drop zone of the Long March-12 launch were disclosed through a Notice to Airmen (NOTAM) warning of an “aerospace flight activity.” PhilSA disseminated a pre-launch report to relevant government agencies and authorities prior to the launch.
That pre-launch communiqué explained that leftover rocket parts are not projected to fall on land features or inhabited areas, but that “falling debris poses danger and potential risk to ships, aircraft, fishing boats, and other vessels that will pass through the drop zone.”
Furthermore, the notice said a possibility exists for the debris to float around the area and wash toward nearby coasts.
Long March-8 liftoff.
Image credit: CCTV/Inside Outer Space screengrab
Back-to-back launches
From the Chinese, they are highlighting that their commercial spaceport achieved dual-pad launches within five days.
China launched the Long March-12 carrier rocket just five days after launch of a Long March-8A rocket from the same site, but from two different launch pads.
Long March-8A was made on the No. 1 pad. Long March-12 launch mission was performed on No. 2 pad.
According to the China Central Television (CCTV), the back-to-back launches from dual pads within a short timeframe further validate the site’s capability for high-frequency launch operations.
Image credit: Philippine Space Agency
Inter-model switching
“Since the initial design phase, we have targeted high-frequency launches. In designing the routing for gas supply lines and the control system, we have taken into consideration the requirement for rapid inter-model switching,” Yang Tianliang, president of the Hainan International Commercial Aerospace Launch Center told CCTV.
“For instance, after completing a launch from the No.1 pad, it only takes about two to three days to switch the launch configuration onto the No. 2 pad,” said Yang, adding that although the launch site was designed for high-frequency operations, conducting two launches just five days apart was still a first for them, posing numerous challenges that had to be overcome.
“There are significant differences between the two pads. For example, the No.1 pad uses liquid hydrogen, while the No. 2 pad does not. Since these two types of propellants cannot be mixed, we have to thoroughly clean the gas supply lines to ensure no residual traces of the other propellant remained,” Yang said.
Long March-12 logo. Image credit: CCTV/Inside Outer Space screengrab
CCTV also reported that two additional pads are currently under construction at the site. “Once completed, the facility will adopt a configuration with two phases and four pads, further enhancing its ability to meet the growing demand for high-frequency, high-capacity, and low-cost launch services,” the news agency explained.
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Posted in Space News
I see no problem with this as long as there is adequate communication between Red China and the Philippines. NOTAMS should be sufficient warnings, and I do not think debris will be falling in Philippine territorial waters.