Chinese rocket mishap rattles Henan hillside amid test launch
It might seem impossible, yet it happened. Last Sunday, a Chinese rocket "accidentally" launched, then crashed and exploded on a hillside in Henan province in central China. A blood-curdling recording of the incident has surfaced on the internet.
1 July 2024 13:21
On Sunday in China, an unusual incident occurred involving the Tianlong-3 rocket, which "accidentally" launched and then crashed. Videos circulating on social media show the rocket falling to the ground and exploding on a hillside in Henan province in central China.
The company responsible for the rocket, Tianbing Technology, reported that Tianlong-3 "separated" from the launch platform during a ground test. The company's representatives explained that the cause of the incident was a structural failure. Fortunately, no one was injured as the area had been evacuated beforehand.
China. Tianlong-3 rocket accident
Tianlong-3 is a Chinese rocket designed and manufactured to be reusable. Its construction aimed to allow for the rocket's repeated use after completing a mission, a key element of modern space technologies. However, the failure during the ground test underscores the challenges associated with developing such advanced technologies.
Reusable rockets aim to significantly reduce the costs of space exploration, as they allow for the reuse of previously single-use components. Despite the incident, Tianbing Technology will likely continue perfecting its designs to achieve its set goals.