Beijing Tianbing Technology announced that the first stage of its Tianlong-3 rocket detached from its launch pad during a test due to structural failure and landed in a hilly area in Gongyi, central China. Fortunately, there were no casualties reported after the incident. Parts of the rocket stage caused a local fire, but it was quickly extinguished, with no injuries reported.
The Tianlong-3 rocket is being developed by Space Pioneer, a private-sector rocket maker that is part of the rapidly growing private space industry in China. This incident of falling rocket debris during development is rare and unusual in China.
The first stage of the Tianlong-3 rocket ignited normally during a test but later detached from the test bench and landed a mile away due to structural failure. The rocket is a two-stage one, similar in performance to SpaceX’s Falcon 9 rocket.
Space Pioneer previously launched the Tianlong-2 rocket, becoming the first private Chinese company to send a liquid-propellant rocket into space. The company, along with many others in the Chinese commercial space industry, has been focusing on developing reusable rockets to reduce mission costs.
The incident highlights the risks and challenges associated with private space development in China, as well as the importance of safety measures in testing and launching rockets. Despite the setback, companies like Space Pioneer are continuing to innovate and push the boundaries of space technology in the country.
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