On a recent Sunday, a test launch by the Chinese private company Beijing Tianbing, also known as Space Pioneer, took an unexpected turn when the first stage of their rocket unintentionally blasted off and crashed into a hillside. The incident involved their large liquid carrier rocket named ‘Tianlong-3’, which the company compares to SpaceX’s Falcon 9, boasting a diameter of 3.8 meters and a takeoff mass of 590 tons. This rocket was designed to contribute to the development of China’s satellite internet network.
The launch initially appeared successful with the company reporting that the first-stage rocket ‘ignited normally’. However, a structural failure at the connection between the rocket body and the test bench led to unforeseen consequences. The rocket detached from the launch pad, unintentionally launched, and the onboard computer subsequently ‘automatically shut down’.
Rather than reaching space, the rocket collided with a hill in Gongyi, a city in central China, where it ‘disintegrated’ upon impact. The crash resulted in a massive explosion, captured in footage shared by netizens. The video shows the rocket soaring upwards before losing power and descending rapidly back to Earth, ultimately crashing and causing a fiery blast amid the hills.
In response to the accident, Space Pioneer confirmed that the test site was located a significant distance from populated areas of Gongyi. The company coordinated with local authorities to ‘improve safety measures and organize the evacuation of surrounding personnel in advance’, ensuring the safety of the nearby residents.
Thankfully, following an investigation, Space Pioneer reported that there were no casualties. The Gongyi emergency management bureau also made a statement, noting that parts of the rocket were found scattered within a ‘safe area’ and that a fire caused by the accident had been successfully extinguished.
Space Pioneer has been a prominent player in China’s commercial rocket industry. Just last year, the company achieved a milestone by launching its Tianlong-2 rocket, marking the first time a commercial launch operator in China successfully sent a liquid carrier rocket into orbit. However, this recent incident contrasts starkly with the impressive feats achieved by SpaceX last month, including the precise landing of two rocket boosters by the Elon Musk-led company.
As Space Pioneer navigates the aftermath of this failed test, the focus remains on enhancing safety protocols to prevent future mishaps as they continue to advance China’s capabilities in space technology.