China’s Long March 7A rocket explodes after launch, satellite lost

A Long March 7A rocket experienced an explosion shortly after liftoff, resulting in the loss of a communications satellite on Monday night. The unmanned 60-meter (197-foot) rocket, launched from the Wenchang Space Launch Site on Hainan Island, was carrying the ChinaSat-4B satellite towards high Earth orbit. However, approximately 90 seconds into the flight, the rocket erupted in flames and thick black smoke.

Social media videos from spectators near the launch site confirmed the catastrophic event, which may have been triggered by a major anomaly causing the rocket's flight termination system to activate. Both the rocket and satellite were lost over the South China Sea. State news agency Xinhua announced the failure about three hours after the launch, stating that an "anomaly during flight" caused the mission to fail, with the cause under investigation.

ChinaSat-4B, expected to provide global radio, television, and other communications services, was also believed to be utilized for military communications. The Long March 7A, one of China's new-generation rockets, typically burns kerosene and liquid oxygen. Despite failing its maiden flight in March 2020, it has since completed multiple successful missions, including the July 29 launch of the Tianlian-3 (01) satellite.

This particular launch was notable for being the shortest turnaround since the previous Long March 7A mission.