Chinese rocket breaks up post megaconstellation launch, leaving space junk cloud
A Chinese Long March 6A rocket launched 18 satellites but broke apart, creating over 300 debris pieces. This incident raises concerns about space debris as the Qianfan network plans 14,000 satellites.
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On August 6, 2024, a Chinese Long March 6A rocket successfully launched 18 satellites for the Qianfan broadband network but subsequently broke apart, creating over 300 pieces of trackable debris in low Earth orbit (LEO). The United States Space Command confirmed the breakup and is monitoring the situation, stating there are currently no immediate threats. The incident raises concerns about the increasing amount of space debris, particularly as the Qianfan constellation plans to deploy up to 14,000 satellites. Experts from Slingshot Aerospace highlighted the potential for significant debris accumulation if future launches result in similar breakups. This event is not isolated; a previous Long March 6A launch in November 2022 also resulted in a debris cloud. The growing number of operational satellites and debris in orbit, estimated at around 40,500 pieces larger than 10 cm and 130 million smaller shards, underscores the urgent need for effective space debris mitigation strategies and enhanced tracking capabilities to ensure the safety of space operations.
- A Chinese Long March 6A rocket broke apart after launching 18 satellites, creating over 300 debris pieces.
- The incident highlights concerns about space debris as the Qianfan network plans to deploy up to 14,000 satellites.
- The U.S. Space Command is monitoring the debris but reports no immediate threats.
- Previous launches of the Long March 6A have also resulted in significant debris clouds.
- The increasing number of satellites and debris in orbit emphasizes the need for better debris mitigation and tracking strategies.
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