ALBAWABA - A Chinese space rocket exploded near earth’s orbit. The explosion created pieces of debris and posed threat for more than 1,000 satellites and other objects, according to a report by LeoLabs, a leading provider of integrated space situational awareness and space domain awareness solutions.
The Chinese space rocket
Shanghai Spacecom Satellite Technology Ltd. (SSST), a China's state-owned company, launched about 18 internet satellites into orbit on Tuesday. These launched satellites are among the first batch that will compete with SpaceX's massive Starlink network. The rocket’s upper part that carried the satellites exploded and created debris as reported by LeoLabs.
Shanghai Spacecom Satellite Technology Ltd. (SSST) said in an official statement that that number of debris caused by the explosion exceeded 900 pieces, as this explosion is considered one of the biggest space crashes.
More than 1,100 satellites and other objects in space are at risk of being hit by the debris caused by the Chinese space rocket explosion over the next three days. (Shutterstock)
The company is not confident about the reason of the explosion, experts say the explosion was caused by a collision with another object or due to the explosion of unused rocket fuel on board the rocket. The explosion caused a debris cloud that could last for several years, according to Reuters.
Threats following the explosion
The explosion of the Chinese space rockets is posing real threats to more than 1,000 satellites and other objects as experts explained. Audrey Schaffer, Vice President of Strategy and Policy at Slingshot Aerospace, said more than 1,100 satellites and other objects in space are at risk of being hit by the debris caused by the Chinese space rocket explosion over the next three days.
Schaffer told Reuters that about a third of the objects at risk are active spacecraft that could be derailed. Other objects are uncontrollable pieces of old space debris that can collide with the new debris.
It is worth noting that a Chinese rocket exploded in 2022 and created hundreds of debris which made other countries criticize China and the way it disposes rocket bodies.
