Watch: China Tianlong-3 rocket accidentally crashes into mountains after launch during ground test

Tianlong-3 rocket crash (Photo Credit- X - @AggregateOsint)

A Chinese rocket named Tianlong-3 crashed into the mountains in China after the launch on Sunday. Footage of the crash has gone viral on social media where the Tianlong-3 rocket is seen falling back to the Earth and exploding in central China’s Henan province hills.

The reason for the crash was structure failure, when the rocket after launch from the launch pad broke according to the company named Space Pioneer also known as Beijing Tianbing Technology, manufacturer of this plane. There were no casualties during the incident and the evacuation happened on the crashing site.

“After liftoff, the onboard computer was automatically shut down, and the rocket fell into the deep mountains 1.5 kilometers [0.9 miles] southwest of the test platform. The rocket body fell into the mountain and disintegrated.” said by Space Pioneer.

This company is a leading giant in commercial rocket manufacturing, the company has done successful launches in past, and this rocket was built to help construct China’s satellite internet network.

Space Pioneer is considered a competitor to Elon Musk's SpaceX. According to the company, their rocket performance is comparable to that of SpaceX’s Falcon 9. They claim that after the rocket's first successful flight, it can launch over 30 times per year.

This frequent launch capability positions Space Pioneer as a significant player in the space industry, aiming to rival the efficiency and reliability demonstrated by SpaceX. By matching the Falcon 9’s performance metrics, Space Pioneer aspires to establish itself as a formidable contender in the commercial spaceflight sector.

Although falling rocket debris after launches is relatively common, it is quite rare for a rocket still in development to make an unplanned flight and crash outside its test site. This mission holds significant importance for China's ambition of becoming a leading space power.