Part of a Long March 2C rocket with toxic fuel falls in a Chinese village

In a densely populated area of China, an accident occurred when parts of a launch vehicle fell, resulting in a leak of toxic fuel and the spread of a toxic cloud.

Launch vehicle crash

Rocket stage crash

After the successful launch of the Sino-French mission to study gamma-ray bursts , the first stage of the Long March 2C launch vehicle crashed uncontrollably near a village in southwest China. Residents fled in horror, and a thick orange cloud rose upward from the fallen object.

Part of a Long March 2C rocket with toxic fuel falls in a Chinese village

Hazardous fuel leak

The color of the cloud indicates a leak of nitrogen tetroxide, the strongest oxidizing agent used as rocket fuel. This extremely toxic compound can destroy human tissue on contact, and inhalation can cause pulmonary edema and death.

Part of a Long March 2C rocket with toxic fuel falls in a Chinese village

Dangerous launch practices

Experts note insufficient safety of Chinese space launches. Most rocket stages land near populated areas because the launch sites are located inland. Similar incidents with fuel leaks have already happened before. Although China is gradually modernizing its rockets and spaceports, decommissioning older toxic launch vehicles will take about a decade.

Glossary

Long March 2C - Chinese medium-class launch vehicle
SVOM (Space- based multi-band astronomical Variable Objects Monitor) - a joint Chinese-French space telescope for observing gamma-ray bursts
Nitrogen tetroxide - a strong oxidizing agent used as rocket fuel

Questions answered

What happened to part of the Chinese launch vehicle?

An Internet video shows part of a Chinese launch vehicle falling uncontrollably into a populated area. After hitting the ground, a thick orange cloud rises up, believed to be nitrogen tetroxide, a toxic oxidizing compound used in rocket fuel.

Which rocket fell?

The falling debris appears to have come from the first stage of a Long March 2C rocket that was launched on June 22 for a joint Sino-French gamma ray mission.

Where exactly did the accident occur?

An uncontrolled fall of rocket parts occurred in Guiding County, Qiangxinan Buie Miaonan Autonomous Prefecture, Guizhou Province, southwest China.

What consequences did the accident have?

Luckily, there were no reports of casualties or major property damage, although residents observed falling rocket debris and fled the expanding toxic cloud.

Why do Chinese missiles often fall on populated areas?

Most of China's spaceports are located inland, unlike many other countries where launch sites are located along the coast so that the spent stages fall into the ocean. China is gradually modernizing its missile program, but for now continues to use old models of missiles using toxic fuel components.

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Discussion of the topic – Part of a Long March 2C rocket with toxic fuel falls in a Chinese village

2024-06-25

A video on the Internet shows a part of a Chinese Long March 2C launch vehicle falling with toxic fuel near a populated area in China. Residents flee for their lives, and a thick orange cloud rises from the fallen object.

Yuri Seleznev
Yuri Seleznev Copywriter Elbuz

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