According to a report by Singapore-based Lianhe Zaobao, the large liquid-fueled rocket Tianlong-3, developed by Chinese commercial aerospace company Space Pioneer (Tianbing Technology), failed during its launch on April 3. The rocket lifted off from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center at around 12:17 p.m., but experienced a flight anomaly that led to mission failure. The company said it would conduct a full review and implement corrective measures.
The launch had originally been scheduled for April 2 but was postponed, possibly due to weather conditions. Tianlong-3 is designed as a heavy-lift rocket capable of carrying more than 20 tons to low Earth orbit and is intended to compete with leading international launch vehicles such as SpaceX’s Falcon 9. It is also designed to deploy up to 36 satellites in a single mission.
This is not the rocket’s first setback. During a test in June 2024, Tianlong-3 accidentally lifted off and crashed, catching fire, though no casualties were reported. The latest failure underscores ongoing challenges in China’s commercial space sector as it works to develop high-capacity launch capabilities.
Source: Lianhe Zaobao, April 3, 2026
https://www.zaobao.com.sg/news/china/story20260403-8837860