Recently, the Philippines showcased photos of what appears to be a fragment of a Chinese rocket, discovered floating near Occidental Mindoro province’s coastline.
Newsweek reached out to both the Philippine coast guard and China’s Defense Ministry for further insights.
Why This is Crucial
China has established a significant launch site on Hainan Island in the South China Sea, serving its growing space program. However, its rocket launches have often attracted criticism from neighboring nations.
This month, during the August 4 launch of a carrier rocket, the Philippines reported hearing “loud explosions” According to local officials, there is a “clear danger and risk” posed by falling debris, prompting warnings for residents in the designated drop zones near Palawan province. Authorities have urged individuals to report anything suspicious they might find, as these fragments might contain harmful fuel residue.
Details on the Discovery
On Thursday at around 12:30 PM, the coast guard was alerted by a fisherman who spotted debris approximately a mile from Looc’s coast. The coast guard shared this in their official statement.
Responding quickly, coast guard staff, in collaboration with the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office, located and recovered the object.
This object, approximately 14 feet long and 10 feet wide and made from an alloy, was marked with the Chinese flag. Officials have connected it to the Long March 7 rocket launched in mid-July.
The coast guard reiterated their message, urging fishermen and coastal residents to promptly notify the nearest Coast Guard unit about any unusual floating objects.
The Long March-7 Y10 rocket took off from Hainan’s Wenchang Space Launch Site at 5:34 AM on July 15. Within about 10 minutes, the Tianzhou-9 cargo vessel separated from the rocket and reached its intended orbit, as reported by the China Manned Space Agency.
Tianzhou-9 brought various supplies and samples for three astronauts, known as “taikonauts”, who are currently aboard the Tiangong space station. This mission included two enhanced spacesuits for more effective spacewalks.
The Long March-7 rocket, introduced in 2016, was engineered specifically for missions associated with the space station. The rocket spans about 174 feet in length and has the capability to transport around 14 metric tons to low Earth orbit, powered by four strap-on boosters.
Community Reactions
The China Astronaut Research and Training Center reported Saturday via state news outlet Xinhua: “Recently, the crew on China’s Tiangong space station successfully completed their third spacewalk, this time with assistance from an AI model.”
Philippine National Security Adviser Eduardo Año reacted to the August 4 launch: “We unequivocally condemn the irresponsible tests conducted by the People’s Republic of China regarding the Long March 12 rocket, which caused public alarm and risked the safety of Palawan’s residents.”
Looking Ahead
As of now, Beijing hasn’t publicly commented on the debris’s recovery. China and the Philippines, a U.S. defense ally, have been embroiled in an ongoing territorial dispute in the South China Sea.
Heightening tensions are expected as Manila persists in its stance against China’s expanding actions in the Philippines’ maritime territory.
