Chinese ‘Thousand Sails’ satellite launch ends in rocket malfunction, space debris
By Lauren Taylor (Anchor), William Jackson (Producer), Ian Kennedy (Lead Video Editor)
China recently launched the first 18 satellites for its “Thousand Sails” internet megaconstellation with a Long March 6A rocket. These satellites are part of China’s broader plan to deploy up to 14,000 satellites to provide global broadband coverage, similar to initiatives like SpaceX’s Starlink.
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Click to see story on detector.mediaHowever, the mission encountered a major setback when the rocket’s upper stage broke apart after delivering the satellites into low Earth orbit, creating a cloud of over 300 pieces of trackable debris.
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The incident raised alarms about space safety, given the potential risks of such debris hitting other spacecraft or satellites.
The United States Space Command confirmed the incident Thursday, Aug. 8, and has been actively monitoring the debris, ensuring there are no immediate threats to space operations or safety.
This development has prompted concerns about the potential risks of space congestion due to frequent launches, especially as the global demand for satellite networks grows.
With approximately 10,000 operational spacecraft currently in orbit, mostly from SpaceX’s Starlink constellation, and an estimated 40,000 pieces of debris larger than 4 inches, the risks associated with space debris are increasing.
Experts emphasize the importance of adhering to international space debris mitigation guidelines to prevent further accumulation of space junk, which could pose a risk to both current and future space missions.
[LAUREN TAYLOR]
IN A SIGNIFICANT PUSH INTO SPACE, CHINA RECENTLY LAUNCHED THE FIRST 18 SATELLITES FOR ITS AMBITIOUS “THOUSAND SAILS” INTERNET MEGA CONSTELLATION WITH A LONG MARCH 6A ROCKET. THESE SATELLITES ARE PART OF CHINA’S BROADER PLAN TO DEPLOY UP TO 14-THOUSAND SATELLITES TO PROVIDE GLOBAL BROADBAND COVERAGE, MIRRORING INITIATIVES LIKE SPACEX’S STARLINK.
HOWEVER, THE MISSION ENCOUNTERED A MAJOR SETBACK WHEN THE ROCKET’S UPPER STAGE BROKE APART AFTER DELIVERING THE SATELLITES INTO LOW EARTH ORBIT, CREATING A CLOUD OF OVER 300 PIECES OF TRACKABLE DEBRIS.
THIS INCIDENT HAS RAISED ALARMS ABOUT SPACE SAFETY, GIVEN THE POTENTIAL RISKS OF SUCH DEBRIS HITTING OTHER SPACECRAFT OR SATELLITES.
THE UNITED STATES SPACE COMMAND CONFIRMED THE INCIDENT THURSDAY AND HAS BEEN ACTIVELY MONITORING THE DEBRIS, ENSURING THERE ARE NO IMMEDIATE THREATS TO SPACE OPERATIONS OR SAFETY.
THIS DEVELOPMENT HAS PROMPTED CONCERNS ABOUT THE POTENTIAL RISKS OF SPACE CONGESTION DUE TO FREQUENT LAUNCHES, ESPECIALLY AS THE GLOBAL DEMAND FOR SATELLITE NETWORKS GROWS.
WITH APPROXIMATELY 10-THOUSAND OPERATIONAL SPACECRAFT CURRENTLY IN ORBIT, MOSTLY FROM SPACEX’S STARLINK CONSTELLATION, AND AN ESTIMATED 40-THOUSAND PIECES OF DEBRIS LARGER THAN 4 INCHES, THE RISKS ASSOCIATED WITH SPACE DEBRIS ARE INCREASING.
EXPERTS EMPHASIZE THE IMPORTANCE OF ADHERING TO INTERNATIONAL SPACE DEBRIS MITIGATION GUIDELINES TO PREVENT FURTHER ACCUMULATION OF SPACE JUNK, WHICH COULD POSE A RISK TO BOTH CURRENT AND FUTURE SPACE MISSIONS.
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Media Landscape
See who else is reporting on this story and which side of the political spectrum they lean. To read other sources, click on the plus signs below. Learn more about this dataBias Distribution
Left
China launches rocket carrying new constellation of satellites
Click to see story on The IndependentChina launches rocket carrying new constellation of satellites
Click to see story on Associated Press NewsChina will launch first satellites of constellation to rival Starlink, newspaper reports
Click to see story on Hindustan TimesChina launches rocket carrying new constellation of satellites
Click to see story on abc NewsChina launches rocket carrying new constellation of satellites
Click to see story on Coast ReporterChina launches rocket carrying new constellation of satellites
Click to see story on Flin Flon ReminderChina launches rocket carrying new constellation of satellites
Click to see story on Rocky Mountain OutlookChina launches rocket carrying new constellation of satellites
Click to see story on Prince George CitizenChina launches first satellites for network to compete with Starlink
Click to see story on Novinky.czChina launches rocket carrying new constellation of satellites
Click to see story on Bowen Island UndercurrentChina launches first satellites of constellation to rival Starlink, newspaper reports
Click to see story on ReutersChina launches rocket carrying new constellation of satellites
Click to see story on KIFIChina launches its rival to Elon Musk’s Starlink internet satellites
Click to see story on CNBCChina launches rocket carrying new constellation of satellites
Click to see story on KVIAChina launches rocket carrying new constellation of satellites
Click to see story on Winnipeg Free PressChina Challenges Elon Musk’s SpaceX Starlink With Its Own Internet Satellites, Plans To Deploy 648 Satellites
Click to see story on BenzingaChina launches first satellites of constellation to rival Starlink, says state media
Click to see story on WIONChina launches rocket carrying new constellation of satellites
Click to see story on Washington Top NewsChina launches rocket carrying new constellation of satellites
Click to see story on WPLGChina launches rocket carrying new constellation of satellites
Click to see story on News 4 JAXChina launches rocket carrying new constellation of satellites
Click to see story on Phys.orgChina launches the first satellites from a megaconstellation intended to compete with Starlink.
Click to see story on Digi 24China launches first satellites of constellation to rival Starlink, state media says
Click to see story on WTVBChina launches rocket carrying new constellation of satellites
Click to see story on KOB 4China begins launching a megaconstellation, and it sounds a lot like Starlink
Click to see story on Ars TechnicaChina begins satellite constellation to compete with Starlink: report
Click to see story on The Express TribuneChina launches first satellites for Thousand Sails megaconstellation
Click to see story on Space NewsRight
Untracked Bias
China challenges Starlink: First internet satellites already in space.
Click to see story on ZN.UA Зеркало неделиChina launches the first Qianfan satellites that will form the megaconstellation ‘Mil Velas’
Click to see story on www.larazon.esChina launches group of satellites to rival Starlink
Click to see story on PerthNowChina sets up giant internet satellite constellation
Click to see story on Thanh NiênChina launches rocket carrying new constellation of satellites
Click to see story on Airdrie City ViewFirst batch of satellites for network launched
Click to see story on EcnsChina launches rocket carrying new constellation of satellites
Click to see story on My Mother LodeSaying Goodbye to Starlink, China Launches the First Wave of Constellation of 15,000 Satellites: Okezone Techno.
Click to see story on Okezone.comChina has launched the first satellites from the constellation, wants to compete with Starlink.
Click to see story on aktuality.skChina launches 1st batch of satellites for planned 14,000-strong megaconstellation
Click to see story on SpaceChina launches rocket carrying new constellation of satellites – The Morning Sun
Click to see story on Morning SunChina Launches Satellites For Major Network to Rival Elon Musk’s Starlink
Click to see story on Science AlertChina has released the first satellites for the network, whose goal is to compete with Starlink.
Click to see story on Česká televizeChina Launches Satellites For Major Network To Rival Starlink
Click to see story on slashdot.orgChina has successfully launched the first satellites for its mega-constellation, which will compete with Starlink
Click to see story on Živě.czChina launches rocket carrying new constellation of satellites
Click to see story on thealbertan.comChina will launch satellites to rival Starlink: report
Click to see story on rthk.hkChina has launched the first satellites from a constellation that wants to rival Starlink
Click to see story on romania-actualitati.roChina has launched its first satellites, which are designed to compete with Starlink.
Click to see story on detector.mediaStraight to your inbox.
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