The Philippine Space Agency (PhilSA) received clarification inquiries from the media about the sighting of an unidentified falling object in the atmosphere followed by an explosion in Bataraza and Rizal towns in Palawan around 7:00 PM on Saturday, 07 January.
PhilSA would like to clarify that the phenomenon is highly unlikely to be related to the Long March 7A and the Long March 3B rockets. The Long March 7A rocket was launched on Monday, 09 January, while the sighting and supposed explosion happened on the evening of 07 January. Meanwhile, expected unburned debris from the Long March 3B rocket, launched on 29 December, has already fallen on the drop zone area near Palawan. Unburned debris such as the payload fairing and rocket boosters are designed to separate from the rocket and fall back to Earth minutes after a launch before the rocket enters outer space. The reported sighting and explosion are also unlikely to be related to any orbital debris re-entry. Based on available predictions and tracks of space objects returning from space, no orbital debris re-entered the atmosphere near the Philippines around the reported time of the sighting and supposed explosion.
Based on publicly available information, which includes CCTV footage, the phenomenon could have been caused by a meteoroid as it enters the atmosphere. Small meteoroids (usually a few centimeters across) completely disintegrate in the atmosphere. Larger meteoroids, on the other hand, will survive the atmosphere and eventually hit the ground and produce a loud booming sound. Recovered pieces of these meteoroids are called meteorites.
Similar phenomena that could simulate bright flashes of light and produce explosion sounds include fireworks and thunderstorms. -30-
