A Chinese Tianlong-3 rocket experienced an unintended launch on Sunday during an engine test, culminating in a crash, as confirmed by its manufacturer, Beijing Tianbing Technology, also known as Space Pioneer.
The incident occurred at the Comprehensive Test Center in Gongyi City, Henan Province, where the company was conducting a first-stage engine test.
Several videos captured by onlookers and shared on social media depict the rocket's unexpected liftoff.
Initially, the rocket blasted off with flames emitting from its nozzle, but within seconds, the engines failed, causing the rocket to lose altitude while still aflame, trailing a plume of black smoke. The rocket ultimately crashed, resulting in a massive explosion that sent smoke and flames soaring into the air.
Space Pioneer clarified that the launch was unintentional, attributing the incident to a "structural failure" at the junction between the rocket hull and the test bench.
Following liftoff, an onboard computer shut down the engines automatically, and the rocket descended into the mountains approximately 1.5 kilometers from the test site.
Both the company and local authorities confirmed that there were no casualties, as all personnel had been evacuated beforehand.
The Tianlong-3 is a liquid-fueled carrier rocket designed to deploy satellites into orbit. With the most powerful engines developed in China, it is expected to carry a payload of 17 tons into low Earth orbit or 14 tons into Sun-synchronous orbit.
Chinese media have likened the Tianlong-3 to SpaceX’s Falcon 9.
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