Failed flights: Firms probe launch errors

The Chinese space community suffered a rare setback on Saturday as a result of two failed rocket launches, developments observers said underscore the high risks associated with spaceflight.

At 12:55 am, a Long March 3B carrier rocket lifted off from the Xichang Satellite Launch Center in Sichuan province, carrying the Shijian 32 multirole satellite. However, its third-stage booster malfunctioned during flight, preventing the satellite from reaching its intended orbit, China Aerospace Science and Technology Corp said.

An investigation is underway to determine the cause of the failure, the company said without providing further details.

Developed by the China Academy of Launch Vehicle Technology, the Long March 3B is one of China's most widely used rocket models, having conducted 115 missions since its maiden flight in February 1996. The rocket is primarily used to place satellites into geostationary transfer orbit and can deliver payloads of up to 5.5 metric tons. It is also capable of launching spacecraft into medium-Earth orbit and lunar transfer orbit.

The failed mission ended a streak of 296 consecutive successful Long March launches spanning five years and nine months. The last failure involving the Long March family occurred in April 2020, when a Long March 3B also suffered a third-stage booster malfunction.

Hours later, at 12:08 pm, the first flight of the Ceres 2, a new solid-propellant rocket developed by Beijing-based private company Galactic Energy, lifted off from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in the Inner Mongolia autonomous region. The rocket was attempting to deploy six commercial satellites.

Its flight became abnormal shortly after liftoff and ended in a crash on the ground, according to video footage taken by spectators. Galactic Energy said engineers are investigating the cause of the failure.

According to the company, the Ceres 2 has three solid-propellant core stages and a liquid-fueled upper stage and weighs 100 tons. It is designed to carry up to 1.6 tons of payload to a low-Earth orbit at an altitude of 500 kilometers, or 1.3 tons to a 500-km sun-synchronous orbit. The rocket can be launched from both land — and sea-based platforms and is designed for high carrying efficiency, the company said.

Wang Yanan, chief editor of Aerospace Knowledge magazine, said the twin failures still hold value for the industry.

"Makers of mature rocket models should never be complacent about past success rates, because new challenges will always emerge," Wang said. "At the same time, commercial space ventures must recognize that space programs are defined by both high risks and exciting opportunities. The true competitive advantage lies in systems engineering capabilities that ensure efficiency and reliability under high-frequency operations."

Wu Peixin, a Beijing-based industry observer, said space exploration has never been a smooth process and that failures are often an unavoidable step toward progress, whether involving mature rockets or new models.

"Our space industry's sustainable growth depends on repeated trial and error," Wu said. "As technical data accumulates and the industrial chain matures, risks will continue to decline and efficiency will improve. This resilience in the face of challenges is the industry's core driving force and deserves continued support."

zhaolei@chinadaily.com.cn