The upper stage from LandSpace's Zhuque-2E rocket broke apart in low-Earth orbit shortly after launching on June 9 with two direct-to-cell communications satellites, spreading debris in a heavily trafficked region. The breakup occurred around the time the stage was expected to perform a disposal burn. The US Space Force confirmed the event and stated there are currently no threats to human spaceflight, though the debris orbits between 208 miles and 263 miles at an inclination of 54.5 degrees—a zone home to the International Space Station and a significant portion of SpaceX's Starlink broadband network.
US Space Force Confirms Debris Tracking with No Current Threat to Human Spaceflight
The US Space Force confirmed the breakup event in a post on space-track.org, a website used by the military to distribute orbit data to the public. "The tracked pieces are being incorporated into routine conjunction assessment to support spaceflight safety," the Space Force wrote in an advisory. "There are currently no threats to human spaceflight. Analysis is ongoing."
So far, the Space Force has not added any of the debris fragments to the official catalog of human-made space objects. Darren McKnight, a senior technical fellow at the orbital intelligence company LeoLabs, told Ars the fragmentation event likely generated 100 to 150 pieces of debris.
Debris Orbits Between 208 and 263 Miles Altitude Near ISS and Starlink Satellites
In one piece, the second stage of the Zhuque-2E rocket, made by a Chinese company called LandSpace, measured between 25 and 30 feet (about 8 meters) long and 11 feet (3.35 meters) in diameter. The main body of the rocket's upper stage is now orbiting between 208 miles and 263 miles (335-by-424 kilometers) at an inclination of 54.5 degrees to the equator.
The uppermost part of this orbit crosses the orbit of the International Space Station, but aerodynamic drag will quickly pull all the debris fragments below the ISS. The debris could pose a greater threat to hundreds of Starlink satellites, particularly those providing direct-to-device connectivity and newly launched satellites, which fly at lower altitudes than the bulk of the Starlink constellation.
FAQ
What happened to the Zhuque-2E rocket on June 9?
The upper stage from LandSpace's Zhuque-2E rocket broke apart in low-Earth orbit shortly after launching on June 9 with two direct-to-cell communications satellites. The breakup occurred around the time the stage was expected to perform a disposal burn.
How many debris pieces did the rocket breakup generate?
Darren McKnight, a senior technical fellow at the orbital intelligence company LeoLabs, told Ars the fragmentation event likely generated 100 to 150 pieces of debris. The US Space Force has not yet added any fragments to the official catalog of human-made space objects.
Does the debris threaten the International Space Station or satellites?
The US Space Force stated there are currently no threats to human spaceflight. The debris orbits between 208 miles and 263 miles at an inclination of 54.5 degrees. While the uppermost part of this orbit crosses the ISS orbit, aerodynamic drag will quickly pull all debris fragments below the station. The debris could pose a greater threat to Starlink satellites flying at lower altitudes.
