Chinese Rocket Explodes, More Than 1,000 Satellites, Objects Threatened

A Chinese rocket that exploded in space last week produced more than 700 pieces of debris, endangering more than 1,000 satellites and other objects in Earth's crowded orbit, analysts said Friday. China's state-owned Shanghai Spacecom Satellite Technology (SSST) on Tuesday launched 18 internet satellites into orbit, kicking off the first phase of a communications network that will compete with SpaceX's Starlink constellation. The upper stage of the rocket carrying the satellites apparently exploded shortly after its payload was released, creating a growing debris field. A US space tracking company estimates that there are now at least 700 pieces of debris. SSST did not respond to a request for comment. A Long March-5 rocket carrying the Chang'e-6 spacecraft lifts off from its launch pad at the Wenchang Space Launch Site in Wenchang, south China's Hainan Province, May 3, 2024. (Guo Cheng/Xinhua via AP) US space tracking company LeoLabs said the number of debris likely exceeded 900, making it one of the largest ever. The debris cloud, which formed at an altitude of about 800 kilometers (500 miles), is expected to persist for years, analysts said. It is unclear whether the latest rocket breakup was caused by a collision with another object …

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Chinese Rocket Explodes, More Than 1,000 Satellites, Objects Threatened

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