SMRTR Science & EngineeringAug 10, 2026Interesting Engineering

China’s Long March 7A rocket explodes 85 seconds after liftoff, losing ChinaSat-4B

SMRTR summary

China's Long March 7A rocket exploded 85 seconds after liftoff, destroying the ChinaSat-4B communications satellite over the South China Sea. It was the rocket's 18th mission since 2020, and its second overall failure. The lost satellite had potential military communications uses, adding broader significance to the setback.

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