A Chinese Long March 2C rocket carrying an SJ-11-04 experimental satellite malfunctioned Aug. 18 shortly after liftoff, according to the state-run Xinhua news agency. The failure occurred during China’s third launch in seven days.
“The rocket experienced malfunction during the flight following its launch from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center at 5:25 p.m. Beijing Time in northwest Gansu Province,” Xinhua reported. “The specific cause of the failure is being analyzed.”
The Long March 2C failure occurred three days after China successfully launched an ocean observation satellite aboard a Long March 4B rocket.
The Haiyang 2A satellite lifted off Aug. 15 from the Taiyuan Satellite Launch Center in northern Shanxi Province. The launch occurred at 6:57 a.m. Beijing time.