China launches Sino-French astrophysics satellite, debris falls over populated area

A Chinese launch of the joint Sino-French SVOM mission to study Gamma-ray bursts early Saturday saw toxic rocket debris fall over a populated area. A Long March 2C rocket lifted off from Xichang Satellite Launch Center at 3:00 a.m. Eastern (0700 UTC) June 22, sending the Space Variable Objects Monitor (SVOM) mission satellite into orbit. The launch was declared successful by the China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation (CASC) a short time after liftoff. More

(Source: SpaceNews - Jun 24)