On Sunday, a bizarre incident occurred in China when a commercial rocket company, Space Pioneer, conducted a static-fire test on its Tianlong-3 rocket. The test, which is typically performed on the ground with the rocket remaining stationary, went awry when the rocket suddenly lifted off the launchpad and soared into the sky. However, the unexpected ascent was short-lived, as the rocket appeared to lose power and crashed back to the ground, exploding in a massive fireball just 50 seconds later.
The catastrophic failure was caused by the clamps designed to hold the rocket in place during the test, which succumbed to the intense thrust generated by the rocket’s engines. The onboard computer automatically shut down the engines, but not quickly enough to prevent the rocket from racing away from the launchpad.
Fortunately, there were no reported injuries or casualties in the incident, which is the only silver lining in this otherwise embarrassing blunder. The static-fire test is a routine procedure performed to identify any anomalies in the rocket’s engine, and this incident exposed a flaw in the static-fire system itself.
China’s Rocket Reaches New Heights but Fails with Flamboyant End
This mishap is likely to delay the first official launch of the Tianlong-3 rocket, which was scheduled to take place at China’s new commercial launch facilities near Wenchang spaceport on Hainan island. The rocket was expected to be the first to launch from this new facility, which is located approximately 1,500 miles southwest of Beijing.
Despite this setback, Space Pioneer has had success in the past. Last year, the company made history by becoming the first Chinese commercial launch firm to successfully reach orbit with its Tianlong-2 rocket. Moreover, China has been enjoying a fair amount of success in its space-based endeavors recently, having achieved milestones such as becoming the first nation to bring rock samples from the far side of the moon back to Earth in June.
The incident has left many in the space community scratching their heads, as it is unusual for a static-fire test to go so wrong. However, it is a reminder that even the most well-planned and executed space missions can encounter unexpected setbacks.
