Rocket Explodes into Fireball 85 Seconds After Liftoff! China's Long March 7A Launch Fails, Footage of Accident Released

A major launch accident occurred at China's Wenchang Space Launch Site in Hainan on the evening of October 10 at 8:02 PM local time. China attempted to launch the 'ChinaSat 4B' satellite using the Long March 7A carrier rocket, but the rocket experienced a critical anomaly during flight, leading to the failure of the entire mission. The satellite failed to reach its intended orbit, and the incident has drawn global attention. Relevant authorities are now conducting follow-up investigations and assessments.

Approximately 85 seconds after liftoff, just before stage separation between the first and second stages, the rocket exhibited severe abnormalities. Footage from the scene shows the vehicle breaking apart mid-air and exploding into a massive fireball, marking the immediate failure of the launch. The 'ChinaSat 4B' satellite was lost and did not achieve orbital insertion. The exact financial and equipment losses caused by the accident remain under investigation and will be disclosed later.

This marks the first failure of the Long March 7A since its maiden flight failure in March 2020, ending a streak of over ten consecutive successful high-orbit launches. According to foreign media analysis, the rocket likely exploded near the point of maximum dynamic pressure (max Q) during ascent. This is the fourth launch failure for China's space program in 2026. Xinhua News Agency reported that a detailed analysis and technical inspection are underway to determine the root cause of the accident.