Metro Manila, Philippines – China is set to launch its new Long March-8A rocket on Saturday, January 25, the Office of Civil Defense (OCD) said, issuing reminders to ensure safety in marine areas off Palawan and Basilan where debris could land.
The OCD, in a Facebook post, said the launch from the Wenchang Spacecraft Launch Site in Hainan, China is scheduled to take place between 5:53 p.m. and 6:42 p.m.
In a memorandum signed by Director Cesar Idio, officer-in-charge of the OCD’s Deputy Administrator for Operations, relevant agencies were instructed to ensure public safety in coastal areas within the three designated drop zones.
These areas include locations approximately 85 nautical miles from Rozul Reef in the West Philippine Sea, 40 nautical miles from Puerto Princesa, Palawan, and 33 nautical miles from Hadji Muhtamad, Basilan.
“The Philippine Coast Guard (PCG), Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR), Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG), and the Department of Environment and Natural Resources – National Mapping and Resource Information Authority (DENR-NAMRIA) are advised to implement temporary restrictions and issue Notices to Mariners, Coastal Navigational Warnings, or NAVAREA XI warnings as applicable in the identified drop zones,” the OCD said.
Concerned Regional Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Councils have also been tasked with monitoring the situation and providing updates as needed.
The BFAR has prohibited fishermen from sailing at Rozul Reef and in waters off Puerto Princesa, Palawan, from 5 pm to 9 pm on January 25-27 due to the risk of rocket debris.
Meanwhile, the Philippine Space Agency has warned against retrieving or approaching any debris, as remnants may contain toxic substances such as rocket fuel. Personal protective equipment is required if contact with debris is unavoidable.
“The public is urged to report any suspected debris sightings, either at sea or on land, to local authorities immediately,” the OCD stressed.
This will be the maiden flight of the Long March-8A carrier rocket, which China intends to use as its primary launch vehicle for medium- and low-Earth orbit space missions.
