Comment by _bin_ 3 days ago
Why would Qantas have the implicit right to the airspace first? Space travel and air travel are both value-added human activities. I can't see why we would always prioritize air travel (particularly in very remote locations like this) over space travel.
Most flights will never be impacted this way.
It's not space debris, it's the deliberate disposal of the upper stage of the rocket precisely to prevent it from becoming space debris. The time and location of re-entry are planned and controlled. This is not going to crash into your neighborhood (except if you're neighborhood is in certain areas of China, where they they happily dump spent rocket stages on populated areas).
Are international waters in the southern Indian ocean Qantas' neighborhood?
Something with a lot of significant decimal places that are mostly zeroes.
Unfortunately "got hit by space debris in designated NOTAM area" looks bad in headlines.
You're kidding right? This is space debris. If a Qantas flight crashed into your neighborhood, you know who's responsible right?