Asia in brief The US Space Command warned last Friday that a Chinese Long March 6a rocket launched on August 6 broke up in orbit, creating at least 300 pieces of debris.
Chinese 'Thousand Sails' satellite launch ends in rocket failure, space debris
Chinese state media reported a launch that day: a mission to launch 18 broadband satellites into low orbit.
As The Register reported, Chinese authorities deemed the launch "a complete success" — at least in terms of getting the satellites into orbit.
Space Command was able to find "no immediate threats" from the new cloud of orbiting debris, but continues to watch for future problems.
