Explosion of Chinese Zhuque-2E Rocket: 100 Fragments Threaten ISS and Starlink

What happened?

On June 9, 2025, the upper stage of the Chinese Zhuque-2E rocket, built by private company LandSpace, exploded in low Earth orbit after deploying two satellites. According to the U.S. Space Force, the event generated between 100 and 150 debris fragments, as estimated by Darren McKnight, senior technical researcher at LeoLabs (cited by Ars Technica). The explosion occurred at an altitude of approximately 500 km, dangerously close to the International Space Station (ISS), which orbits at about 420 km, and to SpaceX's Starlink constellation, whose satellites operate between 340 and 550 km. The upper stage, 8 meters long and 3.35 meters in diameter, fragmented violently, likely due to residual fuel or non-passivated batteries, according to analysts. This incident is not isolated: China has been responsible for three of the four worst space debris episodes of the 21st century, according to Xataka, including the destruction of the Fengyun-1C weather satellite in 2007 by an anti-satellite missile (which generated over 3,000 fragments) and the explosion of a Long March 5B rocket upper stage in 2021 (which created a debris cloud that forced the ISS to perform evasive maneuvers).

Why is it important?

This incident underscores the lack of passivation measures by Chinese operators. Passivation, which involves emptying fuel tanks, discharging batteries, and releasing residual pressure, is a standard practice recommended by NASA and the European Space Agency (ESA) to prevent in-orbit explosions. However, LandSpace, like other Chinese operators, does not reuse its launchers, unlike SpaceX, which recovers its rockets and minimizes waste. The Zhuque-2E explosion adds to a growing list of incidents: according to the ESA, more than 30 in-orbit fragmentations were recorded in 2024, mostly from Russian and Chinese upper stages. The immediate impact is an increased risk of collisions for active satellites, including those for communications, weather, and navigation. In the long term, each fragmentation raises the probability of the Kessler syndrome, a scenario where debris density is so high that cascading collisions render entire orbits unusable. The international community, through the UN and the United Nations Committee on the Peaceful Uses of Outer Space (COPUOS), has urged the adoption of binding norms, but China has not signed agreements such as NASA's Space Debris Mitigation Guidelines or the European Code of Conduct for Space Debris Mitigation. Moreover, the incident occurs amid growing space competition: while SpaceX launches thousands of Starlink satellites, China plans its own megaconstellation, Qianfan (also known as Thousand Sails), which could add thousands of satellites in similar orbits, exacerbating the problem if mitigation measures are not implemented.

Immediate and future consequences

The fragments travel at speeds up to 7 km/s, capable of destroying active satellites or piercing the ISS. The Starlink constellation, with over 7,000 satellites in orbit, is especially vulnerable: according to SpaceX data, its satellites perform evasive maneuvers thousands of times per year to avoid debris. In 2024, Starlink executed over 25,000 maneuvers, a 50% increase from 2023. The Zhuque-2E explosion could force dozens of additional maneuvers, consuming fuel and shortening satellite lifespans. In the medium term, collision risk is concentrated in orbits between 400 and 600 km, where the ISS, the Chinese Tiangong space station, and most observation and communications satellites reside. If no action is taken, the Kessler syndrome could become irreversible in the coming decades, as scientist Donald Kessler warned in 1978. Companies like LeoLabs and the ESA constantly monitor debris, but tracking capability is limited: objects smaller than 10 cm are hard to detect, and there are estimated to be over 100 million fragments of 1 mm or less. The international community has proposed initiatives such as active debris removal (ADR), with missions like ESA's ClearSpace-1, scheduled for 2026, or the Astroscale program, but these technologies are still experimental and costly. Meanwhile, China has not adopted standardized mitigation practices, leading to diplomatic tensions: in 2021, NASA publicly criticized China for the Long March 5B explosion, and this new incident could harden stances in international forums.

"China is responsible for 3 of the 4 worst space debris episodes of the 21st century" — Xataka

What should readers know?

Space debris is a growing problem that affects everyone: communications, weather, GPS, and space exploration. Companies like SpaceX, OneWeb, and government satellite operators must constantly maneuver to avoid debris. The Zhuque-2E incident underscores the urgency of international agreements and orbital cleanup technologies. For readers, this means services like satellite internet, weather forecasts, and GPS navigation could be disrupted if a major collision damages key satellites. Additionally, the cost of space missions increases due to insurance premiums and the need for additional shielding. On the regulatory front, the lack of binding norms allows countries like China to continue generating debris without consequences. However, there is hope: initiatives like the ESA's Space Debris Law and the recent FCC proposal requiring mitigation plans for satellites could set precedents. International cooperation, such as the Inter-Agency Space Debris Coordination Committee (IADC), is crucial to standardize practices. Ultimately, the Zhuque-2E explosion is a reminder that space is not a dump: every fragment counts, and the cost of inaction could be the loss of access to vital orbits for humanity.