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One of China's workhorse rockets just exploded in flight

If the failure involved the YF-100 engine, there are broader concerns for China’s space program.

One of China's workhorse rockets just exploded in flight

TL;DR

  • The Long March 7A rocket exploded about 1 minute and 20 seconds after liftoff.
  • The rocket was carrying a classified payload, believed to be a military communications satellite.
  • The explosion occurred during the first stage of flight, possibly due to a flight termination system or an engine issue.
  • The YF-100 engine, which powers the Long March 7A, is widely used in China's space program.
  • A failure in the YF-100 engine could delay the Chang'e 7 mission to the Moon.

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