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Suspected Chinese rocket debris found in Philippine waters
- Officials say they are pressing for Manila to ratify UN treaties that allow people to seek compensation for damage or injury from space launches
- China has previously faced criticism for allowing rocket stages to fall to Earth uncontrolled
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Philippine officials said on Wednesday that suspected debris from a recent Chinese rocket launch has been found at sea off two provinces and they were pressing efforts for Manila to ratify two UN treaties that allow people to seek compensation for damage or injury from space launches.
The Philippine Space Agency said the metal debris found separately this week off Busuanga island in western Palawan and in Calintaan town in Occidental Mindoro province were highly likely to be parts of China’s Long March 5B rocket, which blasted off last week from the Wenchang Space Launch Centre on Hainan island.
The rocket carried a module with laboratory materials for a space research station being built by China.
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The rocket parts were found near waters where the Philippine Space Agency had earlier warned the public the debris was likely to fall. The agency said its experts had examined pictures of the suspected debris, including one that shows what appears to be a part of the Chinese flag.
02:43
Chinese space debris seen burning up in night sky over Malaysia as rocket parts land in sea
Chinese space debris seen burning up in night sky over Malaysia as rocket parts land in sea
The rocket’s booster was projected to crash down offshore about 72km (45 miles) from Scarborough Shoal, a disputed fishing ground off the northwestern Philippines, but there has been no report of any debris being found in the area, the space agency said.
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