Part of a Long March 2-C rocket carrying a satellite, jointly launched by China and France, fell back to Earth close to a residential area and exploded immediately after the launch.
The spacecraft, with the satellite named Space Variable Objects Monitor (SVOM), lifted off from the Xichang Satellite Launch Centre at 3.00 am on June 22 (local time). Shortly after liftoff, a part of the rocket, said to be a booster, fell back to Earth.
The video of the incident shows the rocket falling onto a populated area, causing panic as people ran for cover.
The Long March 2C uses a hypergolic mixture of nitrogen tetroxide and unsymmetrical dimethylhydrazine (UDMH), which are toxic to humans. Several people on the internet expressed concern over the inhalation of these toxic substances.
However, Chinese authorities declared the mission a success.
Leave a Comment