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A Chinese rocket, Tianlong-3, crashed after an accidental launch during a ground test.
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The rocket detached from the launch pad due to a structural failure and fell into a mountainous area.
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No injuries were reported as the area was evacuated before the test.
A Chinese rocket, Tianlong-3, crashed on Sunday after an accidental launch during a ground test. The rocket, developed by Space Pioneer, detached from the launch pad due to a structural failure and fell into a mountainous area near Gongyi city in central China. Fortunately, no injuries were reported as the area was evacuated before the test.
The incident occurred during a ground test, and the rocket flew to a considerable height before crashing. The onboard computer shut down after liftoff, causing the rocket to fall into the mountains. Space Pioneer stated that the connection failure between the rocket body and the test platform led to the accident.
This incident comes after Space Pioneer successfully launched its Tianlong-2 rocket in April 2023, becoming the first Chinese commercial launch operator to send a liquid carrier rocket into orbit. The Tianlong-3 is designed to construct China’s satellite internet network, with plans to launch it over 30 times per year once successful flights are achieved.
