Tianlong-3 Accidentally Launched During a Planned Static Fire

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Amateur footage captured by Gongyi citizens and posted on Chinese social media shows Tianong-3, nine-engine test stage igniting and taking off. Hold-down clamps and other structures usually prevent takeoff during a firing test.

The stage is seen climbing into the sky before halting, apparently with its engines shutting off, and falling to Earth. The stage impacted the ground around 50 seconds after it took off, apparently with much of its kerosene-liquid oxygen propellant remaining, causing a large explosion. The Tianlong-3 first stage would likely fire for a number of minutes on an orbital flight.

The reports are there were no casualties.

The incident comes shortly after China’s high-profile success of returning the first ever lunar far side samples to Earth with Chang’e-6.

There was another incident of a hypergolic rocket stage falling over a populated area. On June 22, 2024, a Long March 2C rocket lifted off from Xichang Satellite Launch Center. It fell back over a populated area.

A video posted on Chinese social media site Sina Weibo appears to show a rocket booster falling on a populated area with people running for cover. The booster fell to Earth near Guiding County, Qiandongnan Prefecture in Guizhou province, according to another post.

5 thoughts on “Tianlong-3 Accidentally Launched During a Planned Static Fire”

  1. This is a great example, why one should never have a live warhead, on any test, anything, anywhere. (This has happened, and it’s never a good idea) No poop. To be polite.

  3. “Accidentally Launched During a Planned Static Fire”
    THAT is a level of incompetence I have not seen in a while.
    In CCP China either someone will be executed (CCP loves executions to show how ‘serious’ they are) or no no one will be punished.

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