VIDEO: Chinese Analog of Falcon 9 Detaches from Test Site and Explodes Seconds Later – Details

The stand test of the Tianlong-3 rocket from the Chinese private company Space Pioneer, held today, June 30, ended in disaster. This was reported by Reuters, referencing a post on the aerospace company’s page on the Chinese social media platform WeChat.

Due to a "structural failure" in the connection between the vehicle and the testing stand, as well as excessive thrust from the engines (each producing 110 tons), the rocket detached from the test site and took flight.

Space Pioneer clarified that about 50 seconds after launch, the computer equipment shut down, and the rocket was destroyed approximately 1.5 kilometers away from the test site, in a mountainous area outside the city in Central Henan province with a population of 800,000.

Because of the large volume of fuel, an explosion occurred; however, no information has been received about potential casualties, the company reported. According to local authorities, a fire also broke out at the rocket's crash site, which was quickly extinguished.