Chinese missile collides with mountain

On June 30, the Thien Long 3 rocket, developed by private company Space Pioneer, unexpectedly launched during a test but unfortunately crashed into a deep mountain, causing its body to shatter. The incident took place in Gongyi City, Henan Province, central China, when the first stage of the rocket lifted off from the launch pad, veered off course, and exploded upon impact with the ground, sparking a fire.

Space Pioneer stated that a structural failure in the connection between the rocket body and the test stand resulted in the first stage separating from the launch pad. The onboard computer shut down, causing the rocket to fall into a deep mountain area. Fortunately, no injuries were reported as the test site had been evacuated before the launch. Space Pioneer specializes in manufacturing liquid-fueled rockets and had previously successfully launched the Tianlong 2 rocket in April 2023.

The Tianlong 3 rocket is a large liquid-fuel rocket aimed at supporting the development of China’s satellite Internet network. It consists of two stages and is partially reusable, with the first stage propelling the rocket into the air before detaching and allowing the second stage to continue providing thrust. The performance of the Tianlong 3 rocket is said to be comparable to SpaceX’s Falcon 9 and is expected to be able to launch more than 30 times a year following a successful flight.

Since the Chinese government allowed private investment in the space sector in 2014, commercial space companies in China have experienced rapid growth. Companies have begun building satellites, while others, like Space Pioneer, have focused on developing reusable rockets to lower launch costs. Test sites are often located near the sea for safety reasons, but some, like Space Pioneer’s test center in Gongyi, are further inland. Gongyi, a city of 800,000, is where the incident involving the Thien Long 3 rocket took place.