China's Tianlong-3 Rocket Suffers Catastrophic Failure During Sunday Test by Space Pioneer

Jun 30, 2024, 11:55 AM

A catastrophic failure occurred during a static fire test of China's Tianlong-3 medium-lift orbital launch vehicle, developed by the private aerospace manufacturer Space Pioneer. The test, which took place on Sunday, June 30, 2024, resulted in the rocket emitting black smoke before crashing and exploding in Gongyi city, Henan Province. Videos posted by residents captured the incident, showing the rocket falling into a mountain and catching fire. The city's emergency management bureau confirmed the test flight. Space Pioneer confirmed the crash, and no casualties have been reported.