Accidental Launch of Chinese Rocket Ends in Fiery Crash

[Social Media]

 

A space rocket developed by the Chinese private company Beijing Tianbing, also known as Space Pioneer, crashed and exploded into flames near the city of Gongyi on Sunday. The accident occurred after the rocket, named Tianlong-3, was accidentally launched during a test.

 

According to an official statement on Space Pioneer's WeChat account, the mishap was caused by a structural failure at the connection point between the rocket and its test stand. This failure led to the first stage of the Tianlong-3 rocket leaving its launch pad. The rocket ultimately landed in a hilly area near Gongyi in central China.

 

Video footage from the incident, published by the Chinese digital media outlet The Paper, showed the rocket initially soaring straight up into the air. However, it soon lost power, turned horizontally, and fell back to earth, exploding into flames upon impact in the forested hills. Despite the dramatic visuals, an initial investigation revealed no reports of casualties. Parts of the rocket stage scattered within a designated "safe area," causing a local fire that was subsequently extinguished by the Gongyi emergency management bureau.

 

The Tianlong-3, or "Sky Dragon 3," is a two-stage rocket under development by Space Pioneer. This rocket is designed to be partly reusable, marking a significant step for the company, which is among a small group of rapidly growing private-sector rocket makers in China. The accidental launch and subsequent crash of a rocket under development are rare, although falling rocket debris is not unheard of in China.

 

Space Pioneer explained that the first stage of the Tianlong-3 ignited normally during a hot test but detached from the test bench due to the structural failure. Typically, a rocket consists of several stages. The first stage ignites to propel the rocket upwards, and once its fuel is exhausted, it falls off to allow the second stage to ignite and continue propulsion.

 

The Tianlong-3’s performance is said to be comparable to SpaceX's Falcon 9, another two-stage rocket. In April 2023, Space Pioneer successfully launched the Tianlong-2, a kerosene-oxygen rocket, becoming the first private Chinese firm to send a liquid-propellant rocket into space.

 

Since 2014, when private investment in the space industry was permitted by the Chinese government, numerous commercial space companies have emerged. While many focused on satellite production, companies like Space Pioneer have concentrated on developing reusable rockets to significantly reduce mission costs.

 

For safety reasons, test sites for these companies are often located along China's coastal areas or deep within the country’s interior. Space Pioneer’s test center in Gongyi, a city with a population of 800,000 in Henan province, exemplifies such an interior site.

 

 

Credit: The Guardian 2024-07-02

 

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[SAFETY FIRST]

INCOMING 🚀

 

Crikey, it went off with a bang 

 

That's catastrophic, not static 

China's Space Pioneer. 

 

30 minutes ago, Social Media said:

Space Pioneer’s test center in Gongyi, a city with a population of 800,000 in Henan province, exemplifies such an interior site.

I'd hate to be living in this province. 

 

30 minutes ago, Social Media said:

Tianlong-3, was accidentally launched during a test.

Accidentally launched.... Keep this fool away from the nuclear launch button. 

 

30 minutes ago, Social Media said:

 investigation revealed no reports of casualties

Ha, ha, who led the investigation, incompetent guy who accidentally launched the rocket?

 

 

Edited Monday at 09:01 PM by SAFETY FIRST

[Tug]

Ouch that’s one expensive Bo Bo !

[stoner]

beijing we have a problem. 

[newbee2022]

9 hours ago, Social Media said:

 

A space rocket developed by the Chinese private company Beijing Tianbing, also known as Space Pioneer, crashed and exploded into flames near the city of Gongyi on Sunday. The accident occurred after the rocket, named Tianlong-3, was accidentally launched during a test.

 

According to an official statement on Space Pioneer's WeChat account, the mishap was caused by a structural failure at the connection point between the rocket and its test stand. This failure led to the first stage of the Tianlong-3 rocket leaving its launch pad. The rocket ultimately landed in a hilly area near Gongyi in central China.

 

Video footage from the incident, published by the Chinese digital media outlet The Paper, showed the rocket initially soaring straight up into the air. However, it soon lost power, turned horizontally, and fell back to earth, exploding into flames upon impact in the forested hills. Despite the dramatic visuals, an initial investigation revealed no reports of casualties. Parts of the rocket stage scattered within a designated "safe area," causing a local fire that was subsequently extinguished by the Gongyi emergency management bureau.

 

The Tianlong-3, or "Sky Dragon 3," is a two-stage rocket under development by Space Pioneer. This rocket is designed to be partly reusable, marking a significant step for the company, which is among a small group of rapidly growing private-sector rocket makers in China. The accidental launch and subsequent crash of a rocket under development are rare, although falling rocket debris is not unheard of in China.

 

Space Pioneer explained that the first stage of the Tianlong-3 ignited normally during a hot test but detached from the test bench due to the structural failure. Typically, a rocket consists of several stages. The first stage ignites to propel the rocket upwards, and once its fuel is exhausted, it falls off to allow the second stage to ignite and continue propulsion.

 

The Tianlong-3’s performance is said to be comparable to SpaceX's Falcon 9, another two-stage rocket. In April 2023, Space Pioneer successfully launched the Tianlong-2, a kerosene-oxygen rocket, becoming the first private Chinese firm to send a liquid-propellant rocket into space.

 

Since 2014, when private investment in the space industry was permitted by the Chinese government, numerous commercial space companies have emerged. While many focused on satellite production, companies like Space Pioneer have concentrated on developing reusable rockets to significantly reduce mission costs.

 

For safety reasons, test sites for these companies are often located along China's coastal areas or deep within the country’s interior. Space Pioneer’s test center in Gongyi, a city with a population of 800,000 in Henan province, exemplifies such an interior site.

 

 

Credit: The Guardian 2024-07-02

 

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What, if it would have been a nuclear missile?😳

[Srikcir]

9 hours ago, Social Media said:

The Tianlong-3’s performance is said to be comparable to SpaceX's Falcon 9, another two-stage rocket.

The only comparable accidental rocket failure in the US was in 1952 when a Viking 8 rocket broke free during a static test. 

So sorry to the 15 Space Pioneer investors who provided over $200 million funding in June 2024 and several hundred millions in 2023. Five of the investors are "state-linked." 

Might be some followup accidents.

[rice555]

NASA has had 3 incidents with loss of life, in ground testing, launch and reentry. I think that SpaceX last couple of tests, also went IIT's Up,

but was also in the realm of Shxt Happens, but with no deaths! 

[9KPhalak]

This is the country that wants to rule the world.

[Gweiloman]

14 hours ago, 9KPhalak said:

This is the country that wants to rule the world.

This article is about China, not America. You might want to go to Specsavers.