BEIJING (AP) — Debris from a rocket that boosted part of China’s new space station into orbit fell into the sea in the Philippines on Sunday, the Chinese government announced.
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Most of the final stage of the Long March-5B rocket burned up after entering the atmosphere at 12:55 a.m., the China Manned Space Agency reported. The agency said earlier the booster would be allowed to fall unguided.
The announcement gave no details of whether remaining debris fell on land or sea but said the “landing area” was at 119 degrees east longitude and 9.1 degrees north latitude. That is in waters southeast of the Philippine city of Puerto Princesa on the island of Palawan.
There was no immediate word from Philippine authorities about whether anyone on the ground was affected.
China has faced criticism for allowing rocket stages to fall to Earth uncontrolled twice before. NASA accused Beijing last year of “failing to meet responsible standards regarding their space debris” after parts of a Chinese rocket landed in the Indian Ocean.
The country’s first space station, Tiangong-1, crashed into the Pacific Ocean in 2016 after Beijing confirmed it lost control. An 18-ton rocket fell uncontrolled in May 2020.
China also faced criticism after using a missile to destroy one of its defunct weather satellites in 2007, creating a field of debris that other governments said might jeopardize other satellites.
The July 24 launch of the Long March-5B, China’s most-powerful rocket, carried the Wentian laboratory into orbit. It was attached on Monday to the Tianhe main module, where three astronauts live.
The remains of a separate cargo spacecraft that serviced the station fell into a predetermined area of the South Pacific after most of it burned up on reentry, the government announced earlier.
It would be very odd if it failed to fall to earth.
The Chinese government also said that 30,000 vials of covid strains that were brought on board the rocket to see how the virus reacts in space, also inadvertently fell out of the rocket.
“However, there is no need to fear,” the Cinese government said in the statement issued on Sunday. “Because, like the rocket booster, the vials ALSO fell into the sea, at least we think they did.”
“However,” the statement went on to say, “if any fishermen or boat riders see some strange vials inside their sea vessels, take a look at the labels on top of the vials, and see if they’re marked “Wuhan Lab”. If they ARE, immediately toss the vials overboard, and wash your hands for at least 20 seconds with sea water and soap, and you’re good to go.”
“Additionally,” the Chinese government said in the statement, “you will be happy to learn that China is still churning out millions of disposable gloves and KN95 masks on a daily basis. So feel free to use of our online commerce websites for your daily virus needs.”