In a startling event, suspected debris from a Chinese rocket plummeted to the ground over a village in southwest China, sending villagers running for cover. The dramatic footage, which quickly surfaced online, showed a trail of bright yellow smoke and chaos as the debris fell. The incident occurred shortly after a Long March 2C carrier rocket launched from the Xichang Satellite Launch Center in Sichuan Province on Saturday at 3 p.m. local time.
The Long March 2C rocket was tasked with sending the Space Variable Objects Monitor, a powerful satellite developed by China and France, into orbit. This satellite is designed to study gamma-ray bursts, the most powerful explosions known to occur in the universe.
Chinese leader Xi Jinping has made it a priority to establish China as a dominant space power, increasing the frequency of space missions to compete with other major world powers, including the United States. The China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation (CASC), which developed the Long March 2C rocket, declared Saturday’s launch a “complete success.” However, the aftermath on the ground told a different story.
Videos posted on Chinese social media and shared with CNN by local witnesses showed the suspected rocket debris falling over Xianqiao village in Guizhou Province, which neighbors Sichuan. One video on the Kuaishou short-video site depicted a long, cylindrical piece of debris crashing next to a hill, with yellow smoke billowing from one end. The video was geolocated to Xianqiao village, confirming its authenticity.
Multiple videos from various angles showed villagers, including children, running away from the falling debris, looking back at the orange trail in the sky, and covering their ears against the explosion's sound. By Monday afternoon, some of these videos had been taken down.
Eyewitnesses described hearing a loud explosion and smelling a pungent odor after the debris hit the ground. One villager recounted seeing the rocket fall with their own eyes, noting the explosive sound and the strong smell.
In the aftermath, a now-deleted government notice revealed that Xinba Town, near Xianqiao village, was slated to conduct a “rocket debris recovery mission” shortly after the launch. Residents were advised to leave their homes and stay in open areas to watch the sky, and warned to stay away from the debris due to the risk of toxic gas and explosions. They were also forbidden from taking photos of the debris or sharing videos online.
Fortunately, there were no immediate reports of injuries from local authorities. However, the presence of toxic substances in the debris raised serious concerns. Markus Schiller, a rocket expert and researcher at the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute, identified the debris as the first-stage booster of the Long March 2C rocket, which uses a highly toxic liquid propellant mixture. The orange smoke trail was a telltale sign of this dangerous substance.
Such incidents are not uncommon in China due to the inland location of its launch sites. Most rockets are launched from sites far from the coast, including Xichang, Jiuquan in the northwest, and Taiyuan in the north, built during the Cold War for security reasons. In contrast, Western space agencies like NASA and the European Space Agency typically launch rockets from coastal locations to minimize the risk of debris falling on populated areas.
Before each launch, China's civil aviation authority issues notices to pilots warning them of potential danger areas. Despite these precautions, debris from Chinese rockets has previously hit villages. In December 2023, rocket debris landed in Hunan Province, damaging two houses. In 2002, a boy in Shaanxi Province was injured by fragments from a satellite launch.
The international space community has criticized China for its handling of rocket debris. In 2021, NASA condemned China for failing to meet responsible standards after debris from a Long March 5B rocket fell into the Indian Ocean.
As China continues to push its space ambitions, the safety of villagers living near launch sites remains a significant concern. The recent incident in Xianqiao village underscores the risks and the urgent need for better safety measures to protect those on the ground.
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