Beijing: Beijing Tianbing Technology Co., known as Space Pioneer, disclosed on Sunday that a section of its Tianlong-3 rocket’s first stage suffered a structural failure during testing and landed in a hilly area near Gongyi in central China.
According to a statement on its official WeChat account, Space Pioneer confirmed no casualties were reported in the incident. However, parts of the rocket stage caused a local fire within a designated “safe area,” as stated by the Gongyi emergency management bureau in a separate release. The fire has been extinguished, and there have been no injuries reported.
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The Tianlong-3, or “Sky Dragon 3”, is a partly reusable two-stage rocket currently under development by Space Pioneer. The first stage detaches when fuel is depleted, followed by ignition of the second stage for continued propulsion—a design similar to SpaceX’s Falcon 9.
In April 2023, Space Pioneer achieved a milestone by launching the Tianlong-2, a kerosene-oxygen rocket, marking the first liquid-propellant rocket launched into space by a private Chinese firm.
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Since private investment was permitted in China’s space industry in 2014, numerous commercial space companies, including Space Pioneer, have emerged. These firms focus on satellite manufacturing and the development of reusable rockets aimed at reducing mission costs.
While many test facilities are located along China’s coast for safety reasons, Space Pioneer’s testing center in Gongyi, situated inland in Henan province, underscores the company’s commitment to advancing space technology within China’s interior.
