In a statement released by Space Pioneer, a Chinese rocket crashed after being accidentally launched during a ground test on Sunday. The mishap occurred when the first stage of the Tianlong-3 rocket detached from its launch pad due to a structural failure. The rocket landed in a hilly area of Gongyi, a city in central China.

Space Pioneer, also known as Beijing Tianbing Technology, explained that the separation between the rocket body and the test platform suffered a structural failure, leading to the detachment from the launch pad. Subsequently, the onboard computer was automatically shut down, causing the rocket to fall into the deep mountains approximately 1.5 kilometers southwest of the test platform. The rocket body disintegrated upon impact.

Fortunately, there were no injuries reported as the area had been evacuated prior to the rocket test. Space Pioneer, a leading company in the commercial rocket industry, specializes in liquid-propellant rockets. In April 2023, the company achieved a significant milestone by successfully launching the Tianlong-2 rocket, making them China's first commercial launch operator to send a liquid carrier rocket into space and successfully enter orbit, as reported by state media.

As for the rocket involved in the crash, the Tianlong-3 is a large liquid carrier rocket designed to aid in the construction of China's satellite internet network. Space Pioneer highlighted that the rocket's product performance is comparable to SpaceX's Falcon 9. Following the rocket's first successful flight, it is expected to have the capability of being launched more than 30 times per year.

The incident comes shortly after the return of China's Chang'e-6 lunar module from space. The module successfully collected the first-ever samples from the far side of the moon, marking a significant achievement in China's pursuit to establish itself as a dominant space power. This ambition aligns with the country's "eternal dream" as expressed by Chinese leader Xi Jinping.

The crash of the Tianlong-3 rocket serves as a reminder of the challenges and risks involved in space exploration. It occurred amidst a global trend of increased lunar exploration programs, with countries such as the United States also intensifying their efforts in this field.