Beijing Tianbing Technology announced that the first stage of its Tianlong-3 rocket detached from its launch pad during a test due to structural failure, landing in a hilly area of Gongyi in central China. There were no casualties reported, and the debris caused a local fire that has since been extinguished. Tianlong-3 is a partly reusable rocket being developed by Space Pioneer, a private-sector rocket maker. Falling rocket debris after launches is rare in China, making this incident unusual. The first stage of Tianlong-3 ignited normally during a test but later detached from the bench and landed over a mile away due to structural failure. The rocket consists of multiple stages, with the first stage propelling the rocket upwards upon launch before falling off and allowing the second stage to ignite. Space Pioneer aims for Tianlong-3 to rival SpaceX’s Falcon 9 rocket. In 2023, Space Pioneer became the first private Chinese firm to send a liquid-propellant rocket, Tianlong-2, into space. Since 2014, Chinese commercial space companies have grown rapidly due to state permission for private investment in the industry. While many focus on satellites, others like Space Pioneer are developing reusable rockets to reduce mission costs. Test sites for these companies are usually located along China’s coast for safety but can also be found inland, like Space Pioneer’s center in Gongyi, Henan.
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