July 1st 2024.
In a recent development, a powerful rocket made by a private Chinese company, Space Pioneer, experienced an unexpected launch and subsequent crash during a ground test. The incident occurred on Sunday at a facility in Henan province, specifically in Gongyi county.
According to a statement released by Space Pioneer, also known as Beijing Tianbing Technology, the rocket, named Tianlong-3, was undergoing a static-fire test when it suddenly took off due to a structural failure. Fortunately, it landed in a hilly area and no injuries were reported as the company had evacuated the surrounding area prior to the test.
The rocket, which boasts of nine engines and is said to be the most powerful in China, was supposed to be lifted off in the afternoon on Sunday. However, due to the aforementioned structural failure, the launch was unsuccessful. The company also mentioned that the incident happened at the connection between the rocket body and the test platform.
Space Pioneer is just one of the many private aerospace companies in China that are working on developing reusable rockets with the aim of helping the country establish its own satellite constellation similar to SpaceX's Starlink. The crash of the Tianlong-3 rocket was captured on video by residents of Gongyi, who posted it online. The footage showed the rocket ascending into the sky and leaving behind a trail of smoke before ultimately falling back to the ground on its side.
The crash caused a huge explosion and some critics of Space Pioneer have pointed out that the company made a "low-level mistake" that could have put the lives of nearby residents in danger. One user on Weibo, a popular Chinese social media platform, expressed concern over the incident and criticized the company for not acknowledging it as an accident in their statement. Another user also mentioned that the crash happened dangerously close to a densely-populated area.
In response to the incident, Space Pioneer explained that the rocket's first-stage was separated from the launch pad due to the structural failure and the on-board computer shut down automatically. As a result, the rocket fell into a nearby mountain and disintegrated. The company also stated that the rocket's performance is comparable to SpaceX's Falcon 9 and they aim to launch it over 30 times per year after its successful first flight.
The crash of the Tianlong-3 rocket occurred just days after China's Chang'e-6 lunar probe successfully brought back samples from the far side of the moon. However, Space Pioneer clarified that the test site was far away from the city and that they had taken all necessary safety measures in collaboration with the local government. After thorough investigations, it was confirmed that there were no casualties.
In their statement, Space Pioneer also mentioned that the rocket generated a combined thrust of 820 tonnes during the test, surpassing the combined thrust of other Chinese reusable rockets which is around 400 tonnes. The incident has raised concerns about the safety and reliability of private aerospace companies in China, but the company remains determined to continue their work and achieve success with the Tianlong-3 rocket.
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