China’s space programme suffered a setback after a Long March 7A rocket encountered a problem shortly after liftoff while carrying a communications satellite, state media reported.
The rocket launched from the Wenchang Space Launch Site in Hainan at around 8:02 pm local time on Monday. It was carrying the Zhongxing-4B communications satellite when a flight anomaly was detected, according to China’s state news agency Xinhua.
Authorities have launched an investigation to determine what caused the failure. No official explanation has yet been given regarding the precise nature of the malfunction.
Reports and videos circulating online appeared to show the rocket breaking apart in the sky shortly after launch. Footage shared on social media showed a bright explosion followed by a large cloud of smoke, although official authorities have not provided further details about the reported destruction of the vehicle.
The incident comes as China continues to invest heavily in its space programme as part of its long-term ambitions in space exploration. Beijing has set a target of sending astronauts to the Moon before 2030, placing its programme in direct competition with the United States and its Artemis missions.
China had recently achieved another milestone in its space efforts, successfully landing a reusable rocket in July, a development seen as important for reducing the cost of future launches.
Commenting on reports of the latest failure, SpaceX chief executive Elon Musk said on X that rockets are extremely difficult to develop and operate, while expressing hope that China would recover quickly from the setback.
The Long March 7A programme has faced difficulties before. Its first launch from Wenchang in 2020 also ended unsuccessfully after a malfunction was reported.
The latest incident is therefore another reminder of the technical challenges involved in China’s increasingly ambitious space programme, even as the country continues to pursue major milestones in lunar exploration and reusable launch technology.
