WENCHANG, China, Aug 10 (Reuters) – China said the launch of the ChinaSat-4B satellite aboard a Long March 7A rocket failed after the rocket experienced a flight anomaly shortly after liftoff from the Wenchang space launch site on Monday.
The rocket lifted off at 8:02 p.m. Beijing time (1202 GMT), state news agency Xinhua said, adding that the cause was being further analysed.
Reuters witnesses saw a bright flash high in the night sky after launch, followed by what appeared to be multiple glowing fragments.
The mission was the first known Long March 7A failure since the rocket’s maiden flight in March 2020. The rocket returned to service in 2021 and subsequently completed a series of successful missions.
(Reporting by Reuters staff; Editing by William Maclean)
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