Leonard David's INSIDE OUTER SPACE

Image credit: CCTV/Inside Outer Space screengrab

Last week China hurled into space a new communication technology test satellite, making use of the Wenchang Space Launch Site in south China’s Hainan Province.

The June 11 liftoff of the Long March 5 booster was noted and confirmed by the Philippine Space Agency (PhilSA) as it routinely monitors expected debris that careens into identified “drop zones” (DZs) sent skyward from China’s busy Wenchang spaceport.

“Unburned debris from rockets, such as the booster and fairing, are designed to be discarded as the rocket enters outer space,” posted PhilSA.

Potential risk

“While not projected to fall on land features or inhabited areas, falling debris poses danger and potential risk to ships, aircraft, fishing boats, and other vessels that will pass through the drop zone,” PhilSA warned.

Due to the possibility for rocket leftovers floating around the area and washing toward nearby coasts, it advises the public to inform local authorities if suspected debris is sighted.

PhilSA also cautions against retrieving or coming in close contact with these materials that may contain remnants of toxic substances such as rocket fuel.

“Additionally, the possibility of an uncontrolled re-entry to the atmosphere of the rocket’s upper stages returning from outer space cannot be ruled out at this time,” PhilSA noted.

Drop zones

DZ 1 is approximately 69 Nautical Miles away from Burgos, Ilocos Norte, and 94 Nautical Miles away from Dalupiri Island, Cagayan.

DZ 2 is 119 Nautical Miles away from Santa Ana, Cagayan, and 133 Nautical Miles away from Camiguin Norte.

Image credit: Philippine Space Agency (PhilSA)

Both drop zones are within the Philippine Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ), PhilSA explains.

“Details of the rocket drop zone 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.”

A similar launch warning was posted by PhilSA in late May. On that occasion, China lofted a Long March 7A from the Wenchang Space Launch Site.

Wenchang ramp up

Meanwhile, word is that the Wenchang spaceport is prepared to ramp up rocket liftoffs per year.

Wenchang is home of the Hainan commercial spacecraft launch site, located in Wenchang International Aerospace City. It was built and is being operated by the Hainan International Commercial Aerospace Launch Co., Ltd. (HICAL).

Construction of China’s first commercial spacecraft launch site began in July 2022.

For a video of the recent Long March-5 carrier rocket launch, go to:

https://www.facebook.com/reel/26200449259631288

Image credit: Embassy of the People’s Republic of China in the Lao People’s Democratic Republic