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Chinese satellite-carrying rocket explodes seconds after launch
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The Independent
Read our Privacy noticeChina said a Long March 7A rocket carrying the ChinaSat-4B satellite failed after an in-flight anomaly following liftoff from the Wenchang space launch site in the southern island province of Hainan on Monday.
The failure could trigger checks of other Chinese launches if investigators identify a problem involving shared components, manufacturing or Wenchang launch operations.
SpaceX founder and CEO Elon Musk, commenting on a post about the failed launch on X, wrote "rockets are insanely hard".
Chinese authorities have officially said Chang’e-7 is planned for launch in the second half of 2026, but launch observers have identified a possible window late this month.
The mission's Long March 5 rocket and spacecraft are at the site.