• Forum
• SITREP
• Military
• WMD
• Intelligence
• Homeland Security

• Space

• Introduction
• Systems
• Facilities
• Agencies
• Countries
• Hot Documents
• News
• Reports
• Policy
• Budget
• Congress
• Links

• Public Eye

PhilSA warns public vs. retrieving possible rocket debris

Philippine News Agency

By Ma. Cristina Arayata
July 15, 2025, 4:28 pm

MANILA -- The Philippine Space Agency (PhilSA) on Tuesday warned the public against retrieving possible rocket debris and advised them to report if suspected debris is sighted.

China launched the Long March 7 rocket from the Wenchang Space Launch Site in Wenchang at around 5:34 a.m. (PhST).

PhilSA suspects the debris to have fallen approximately 33 nautical miles away from Bajo de Masinloc, 88 nautical miles away from Cabra Island, Occidental Mindoro, 51 nautical miles away from Recto Bank, and 118 nautical miles away from Busuanga, Palawan.

There a possibility for the debris to float around the area and wash toward nearby coasts, PhilSA said in an advisory.

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

If contact with debris is unavoidable, the use of personal protective equipment is advised.

Although 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.

In the past, debris was found by fishers a day or several days after the launch.

Unburned debris from rockets, such as the booster and faring, are designed to be discarded as the rocket enters outer space.

"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 said. (PNA)