A Chinese rocket crashed after being accidentally launched during a ground test Sunday, its company Space Pioneer said in a statement. The crash happened when the first stage of the Tianlong-3 rocket detached from its launch pad during a test, due to structural failure. “Due to the structural failure of the connection between the rocket body and the test platform, the first-stage rocket was separated from the launch pad,” Space Pioneer, also known as Beijing Tianbing Technology, said. The rocket body fell into the mountain and disintegrated.”There were no injuries as a result of the crash, the company said, as people in the area were evacuated in advance of the rocket test. Space Pioneer, a leading company in the commercial rocket sphere, specializes in liquid-propellant rockets.

Source: CNN June 30, 2024 16:56 UTC