MANILA, Philippines — Kinumpirma ng Philippine Space Age ncy (PhilSA) ang pagpapalipad ng Long March 3B/E rocket ng People’s Republic of China — ang mga labi nito ay posibleng bumagsak aniya sa ilang bahagi ng West Philipppine Sea.
Ito ang ibinahagi ng PhilSA sa isang pahayag ngayong Huwebes matapos i-disclose sa kanila ang posibleng “drop zone” sa pamamagitan ng isang Notice to Airmen (NOTAM) warning kaugnay ng “aerospace flight activity.”
“Expected debris from the rocket launch was projected to have fallen within the identified drop zones approximately 28 NM away from Rozul Reef and 38 NM away from Patag Island,” sabi ng ahensya.
“Long March 3B/E was launched from the Xichang Satellite Launch Center in Liangshan Yi Autonomous Prefecture, Sichuan China around 09:50 AM PhST on 09 May 2024.”
Ang Rozul Reef at Patag Island ay nasa loob ng West Philippine Sea, pasok sa 200 nautica l mile exclusive economic zone (EEZ) ng Pilipinas.
Gayunpaman, patuloy na iginigiit ng Tsina ang kanilang “soberanyang karapatan” sa naturang lugar. Ito’y kahit binalewala na ng Permanent Court of Arbitration ang kanilang nine-dash line claim sa halos buong South China Sea.
Ipinagbigay-alam naman na raw ng PhilSA ang kanilang pre-laaunch report sa sari-s aring ahensya ng gobyerno bago pa man lumipad ang naturang rocket.
Nagbabala rin ang PhilSA sa peligrong dala ng pagbagsak nito, lalo na’t dinesenyo raw para madispatsa ang unburned debris gaya ng booster at faring oraas na lumabas ng rocket papuntang kalawakan.
“While not projected to fall on land features or inhabited areas, falling debris poses danger and potential risk to ships, aircraft, fishing boats, and other vessels that will pass through the drop zone,” sabi pa ng PhilSA kanina.
“There is also a possibility for the debris to float around the area and wash toward nearby coasts. Additionally, the possibility of an uncontrolled re-entry to the atmosphere of the rocket’s upper stages returning from outer space cannot be ruled out at this time.”
Idiniin ng ahensya sa publiko na ipagbigay-alam sa mga otoridad ang anumang hinihinalang debris mula sa naturang rocket. Binalaan din ng PhilSA ang lahat laban sa pagkuha o paglapit sa mga materyal na ito, lalo na’t posibleng nagdadala ito ng nakalalasong kemikal gaya ng rocket fuel.
Taong 2022 lang nang itanggi ng Tsina na “pwersahan” nilang inagaw ang isa pang rocket debris na natagpuang palutang-lutang sa Pagasa Island sa Palawan.
MANILA, Philippines — The hobbled New York Knicks have taken a commanding 2-0 lead in their best-of-seven Eastern Conference semifinals matchup after pulling away in the second half against the Indiana Pacers, 130-121, at Madison Square Garden Thursday morning (Manila time).
New York, already without star Julius Randle and center Mitchell Robinson, also played a bulk of the second half without wing OG Anunoby due to a hamstring injury. Jalen Brunson also missed some minutes due to a foot inju ry.
Brunson, however, would score 24 of his 29 points since returning from the injury. Anunoby also had 28 points in almost 28 minutes of action.
After trailing by nine in the third quarter, the Pacers were able to cut the deficit to one, 101-102, with a layup by TJ McConnell.
Ever reliable, Josh Hart sank a booming triple to keep New York in control, 105-101, with less than eight minutes remaining.
The two teams kept in step with each other, as a 3-pointer by Andrew Nembhard pulled Indiana to within two, 108-110.
DiVincenzo and Isaiah Hartenstein teamed up as the second-seeded squad outscored the Pacers 14 to 7, going up an insurmountable nine point advantage, 124-115 with 1:33 remaining.
Aaron Nesmith answered with a trey to keep Indiana in the contest, but the crafty Brunson made the dagger floater and a technical free throw to shut the door on any comeback try.
DiVincenzo finished with 28 markers in 44 minutes, while Hart had 19 markers, 15 boards and seven dimes in all 48 minutes.
In both games of the quarterfinals, Hart has played the whole 48 minutes. In the entire playoff run of the Knicks thus far the wing has played the whole game four times including an overtime loss against the Philadelphia 76ers.
Tyrese Haliburton bounced back from a dismal Game 1 to pace Indiana with 34 points, nine assists and six rebounds. Former Knick Obi Toppin added 20 in as many minutes.
The Knicks were trailing by 10, 73-63, at the half following a jumper by Nembhard.
New York, then, flipped the script in the third quarter, unleashing a 27-8 run to go up by nine, 90-81, following a layup by Donte DiVincenzo.
The whole frame, the Knicks outscored the Pacers 36 to 18 as they took a 99-91 cushion going into the final canto.
The series will move to Indiana for games 3 and 4. The next game will be on Saturday (Manila time).