Chinas Effort to Launch Starlink Rival Accidentally Creates Orbital Debris Field
China's Long March 6A rocket launch created over 300 pieces of debris, potentially risking other satellites and the International Space Station, prompting SpaceX to call for improved space safety practices.
Read original article
A recent launch of China's Long March 6A rocket, intended to deploy the first 18 satellites for its Qianfan satellite constellation, resulted in a significant mishap. The rocket's upper stage broke apart in space, creating over 300 pieces of trackable debris, as confirmed by US Space Command. Other estimates suggest the number of fragments could be as high as 900. This debris is orbiting at approximately 800 kilometers, which poses a potential risk to other satellites, including SpaceX's Starlink and the International Space Station, which operate at lower altitudes. While SpaceX and US Space Command currently assess that the debris does not pose an immediate threat, the fragments could remain in orbit for decades, increasing the risk of collisions. The incident raises concerns about the safety of future launches, particularly as China aims to expand its satellite network. In response, SpaceX has called for improved practices among satellite and launch providers to mitigate the creation of space debris, emphasizing the need for transparent communication and proactive measures to ensure space safety.
- China's Long March 6A rocket launch resulted in over 300 pieces of orbital debris.
- The debris poses potential risks to other satellites and the International Space Station.
- Estimates suggest the number of fragments could exceed 900.
- SpaceX advocates for better practices to prevent future space debris incidents.
- The incident highlights concerns over the safety of expanding satellite networks.
Related
ISS Astronauts Take Shelter After Russian Spacecraft Breaks Up in Orbit
Nine astronauts on the International Space Station sought shelter after a Russian satellite fragmented in orbit. Debris weighing 13,000 pounds was released, but the ISS remained safe as the cloud is expected to burn up harmlessly. LeoLabs monitors for further risks.
Low-intensity explosion caused Russian satellite to spew debris – SpaceNews
A Russian satellite, Resurs P1, broke up in orbit, creating over 100 debris pieces. LeoLabs suspects a minor explosion caused by collision or internal failure. The incident poses risks to operational satellites.
Chinese megaconstellation launch creates field of space debris
China's August 6, 2024, launch of 18 communications satellites created over 50 pieces of space debris, raising concerns about risks to other spacecraft and the need for improved debris management.
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.
Chinese rocket stage breaks up into cloud of > 700 pieces of space debris
A Chinese Long March 6A rocket's upper stage broke apart on August 6, 2024, creating over 700 debris pieces, raising orbital safety concerns and prompting guidelines for better space debris management.
4 commentshttps://xcancel.com/LeoLabs_Space/status/1821674989021450648
> While Russia and the U.S. have improved their “rocket body abandonment behavior” over the last 20 years, the relative contribution by other countries has grown by a factor of five and China by 50x.
https://amostech.com/TechnicalPapers/2023/Poster/McKnight.pd... page 12
> China has contributed as much mass of abandoned rocket bodies in the last 20 years as Russia, US, and Rest of World combined.
> Over the last 20 years, China has abandoned nearly four times the rocket body mass in LEO compared to the US.
> The average rocket body mass for China on-orbit in LEO is over 2,700 kg while the US is less than 1,000 kg and Russia is less than 1,800 kg. These larger individual masses pose a greater fragment production level if they are involved in a catastrophic collision
Not good stewards.
What's the difference?
Related
ISS Astronauts Take Shelter After Russian Spacecraft Breaks Up in Orbit
Nine astronauts on the International Space Station sought shelter after a Russian satellite fragmented in orbit. Debris weighing 13,000 pounds was released, but the ISS remained safe as the cloud is expected to burn up harmlessly. LeoLabs monitors for further risks.
Low-intensity explosion caused Russian satellite to spew debris – SpaceNews
A Russian satellite, Resurs P1, broke up in orbit, creating over 100 debris pieces. LeoLabs suspects a minor explosion caused by collision or internal failure. The incident poses risks to operational satellites.
Chinese megaconstellation launch creates field of space debris
China's August 6, 2024, launch of 18 communications satellites created over 50 pieces of space debris, raising concerns about risks to other spacecraft and the need for improved debris management.
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.
Chinese rocket stage breaks up into cloud of > 700 pieces of space debris
A Chinese Long March 6A rocket's upper stage broke apart on August 6, 2024, creating over 700 debris pieces, raising orbital safety concerns and prompting guidelines for better space debris management.