Static test firing of Chinese rocket results in unintended launch and massive explosion

Lina Portman2 days ago

0 2 minutes read

Hausjärvi, FINLAND — A rocket stage test by Chinese commercial company Space Pioneer ended in catastrophic failure and a spectacular explosion on Sunday.

Space Pioneer conducted what was supposed to be a static test firing of the first stage of its Tianlong-3 launch vehicle at a test facility in Gongyi Country, Henan Province, on Sunday (June 30).

Amateur footage captured by Gongyi citizens and posted on Chinese social media shows the test stage of the nine engines igniting and then, unusually, taking off. Holding clips and other structures are typically used to hold stages securely in place.

The scene is seen rising into the sky before stopping, apparently with its engines off, and returning to Earth. The stage struck the ground about 50 seconds after liftoff, apparently with much of its liquid kerosene-oxygen propellant remaining, causing a large explosion. The Tianlong-3 first stage would likely operate for several minutes during an orbital flight.

Space Pioneer conducted the test in preparation for the orbital launch of the Tianlong-3, which is being compared to SpaceX's Falcon 9, in the coming months. The company announced earlier this month that it had secured $207 million in new funding.

Shanghai-based digital newspaper The Paper reported that Henan officials said no casualties had been reported.

Space Pioneer later issued its own statement, saying there was a structural failure at the connection between the rocket body and the test stand. The rocket's onboard computer automatically shut down the engines, and the rocket fell 1.5 kilometers (0.9 miles) southwest. It reiterated earlier reports that there were no casualties. The company said the test produced 820 tons (1,800 pounds) of thrust.

Static firing tests are part of rocket development or pre-launch testing. Problems are not uncommon during development. A SpaceX Starship prototype exploded after a static firing test in 2020. However, an event in which the stage escapes its restraints and launches appears unique.

The orbital launch attempt was scheduled to take place at a new commercial launch facility near the Wenchang spaceport on Hainan Island. That launch attempt could now face a lengthy delay.

This incident comes shortly after the resounding success of the Chinese Chang'e-6 mission, which brought back to Earth the first samples of the far side of the Moon. It also follows another incident, that of a hypergolic rocket stage which fell above an inhabited area.

It is not yet clear what impact the event will have on Space Pioneer in terms of delays, penalties and continued operations. Space Pioneer said it will conduct an analysis and resume testing with new hardware as soon as possible.

The incident could also have broader implications for China's commercial space ecosystem. The sector has received increasingly strong support from central, provincial and municipal governments.

Delays for Tianlong-3, which is expected to become reusable, could also affect China's megaconstellation plans. China must strengthen its access to space and its overall launch capacity to build the constellations.

China issued policy guidelines and regulations on the development of commercial launch vehicles in the country in 2019.

Space Pioneer notably became the first Chinese commercial launch company to reach orbit with its Tianlong-2 rocket in 2023.

Tianlong-3 is much larger than Tianlong-2, with a diameter of 3.8 meters and a liftoff mass of 590 tons. It is expected to be able to carry 17 tons of payload to low Earth orbit (LEO) or 14 tons to 500-kilometer sun-synchronous orbit.