The rare failure of China’s Long March-7A rocket on Monday – which resulted in the loss of a communications satellite – has prompted questions over whether it was an isolated operational setback or a systemic problem.
Around 8pm on Monday, the 60-metre (197-foot) Long March-7A blasted off from the Wenchang Space Launch Site on the southern island of Hainan, piercing the night sky as it carried the ChinaSat-4B satellite towards high-Earth orbit.
Chinese satellite launch fails after lift-offBut less than 90 seconds into the flight, the rocket erupted into a fireball engulfed in thick black smoke, according to videos posted on social media by spectators near the launch site.
Space observers suggested a major anomaly might have triggered the rocket’s flight termination system, destroying the vehicle.
Both the rocket and satellite were lost over the South China Sea.
The rare failure of China’s Long March-7A rocket on Monday – which resulted in the loss of a communications satellite – has prompted questions over whether it was an isolated operational setback or a systemic problem.
While space experts caution against immediately linking the incident to China’s rapidly increasing launch cadence , the ongoing investigation will determine if the event was caused by a localised technical anomaly or deeper systemic vulnerabilities within the Long March rocket family.
With attention turning to coming missions – particularly for the lunar-bound Chang’e-7, which shares engine technology with the failed booster – China’s ability to balance its ambitious launch schedule with the rigorous scrutiny required to secure its track record will be under the spotlight.
Around 8pm on Monday, the 60-metre (197-foot) Long March-7A blasted off from the Wenchang Space Launch Site on the southern island of Hainan, piercing the night sky as it carried the ChinaSat-4B satellite towards high-Earth orbit.
Chinese satellite launch fails after lift-off
But less than 90 seconds into the flight, the rocket erupted into a fireball engulfed in thick black smoke, according to videos posted on social media by spectators near the launch site.
Space observers suggested a major anomaly might have triggered the rocket’s flight termination system, destroying the vehicle. Both the rocket and satellite were lost over the South China Sea.
