New Delhi, August 11, 2026 (Yes Punjab News)
A Chinese Long March 7A rocket exploded into a massive fireball shortly after launch from the Wenchang Space Launch Site on Hainan island, destroying the communications satellite it was carrying, according to a report.
The rocket broke apart about 85 seconds after liftoff during Monday night’s launch, marking a rare failure for a vehicle regarded as one of the workhorses of China’s space programme. An investigation into the cause of the failure is underway.
The rocket was carrying the Zhongxing-4B, also known as ChinaSat-4B, satellite. According to Chinese state media, the satellite was designed to provide radio, television and other communications services to users around the world.
China’s state news agency Xinhua confirmed the launch failure about three hours after the incident, saying the rocket had “experienced an anomaly during flight”.
The incident also drew attention to the limited coverage it received in China’s state-controlled media. Videos of the launch circulated on Chinese social media platforms including Xiaohongshu and Douyin, although much of the available content was from state-affiliated accounts. Videos uploaded by private users appeared to have been removed or made less visible in searches.
The failure comes as Chinese President Xi Jinping continues to pursue an ambitious national space programme aimed at establishing China as a global leader in space science by 2050.
China and the United States are engaged in an intensifying space competition involving reusable launch technology, lunar exploration and satellite deployment.
The Long March 7A was designed by the China Academy of Launch Vehicle Technology, a subsidiary of state-owned China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation. The rocket was undertaking its 18th mission when it failed.
Prior to Monday’s incident, the Long March 7A had recorded one previous failure, during its maiden flight in 2020.
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