A Chinese Rocket stage broke apart in space this week, resulting in over 700 debris fragments that pose a collision risk to more than 1,000 satellites and other objects in a busy region of Earth’s orbit.
On Tuesday, China’s Shanghai Spacecom Satellite Technology (SSST) launched 18 internet satellites as the first batch of a new communications network aimed at competing with SpaceX’s Starlink constellation. The rocket stage, which deployed the satellites, exploded shortly after, creating a debris cloud estimated to contain at least 700 pieces.
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According to US space-tracking firm LeoLabs, the debris count could exceed 900, making it one of the largest debris events recorded.
The cause of the explosion is uncertain—it could be a collision or an onboard fuel explosion. U.S. Space Command initially reported 300 debris pieces, with the number expected to rise as the debris spreads.
Space-tracking firm Slingshot Aerospace noted that over 1,100 objects are at risk of collision with the debris, with about a third being active spacecraft capable of maneuvering to avoid impact. However, the remaining objects are uncontrollable space debris, increasing the risk of cascading collisions.
This incident follows a similar event in 2022, where a Long March 6A rocket stage also disintegrated, creating significant debris and drawing criticism for inadequate management of spent rocket stages.
Audrey Schaffer from Slingshot Aerospace expressed disappointment over the recurrence of such issues, emphasizing the need for better control to prevent avoidable debris-generating events.
