HELSINKI — A Chinese launch vehicle maker appears to have suffered an explosion at a test site at Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center.
Satellite images show what are likely test stand facilities and the apparent aftermath of an exhaust plume from a hot fire test on the desert surface. Charred debris can be seen scattered across the surrounding area.
The images were published by Harry Stranger, who uses satellite imagery to track space industry developments, on X, the social media platform formerly known as Twitter.
Stranger highlights a number of before and after images, using Planet optical, ESA Sentinel and Umbra radar imagery. The images help constrain the date of the explosion to between 0416 UTC, Nov. 21, and 0321, Nov. 22. An explosion occurred at the same facilities in October 2021.
The facilities are believed to be operated by the China Aerospace Science and Industry Corp. (CASIC), a giant state-owned enterprise engaged in defense and space, and developer of Kuaizhou solid rockets. The infrastructure appears to resemble that setup at Jiuquan by a CASIC subsidiary.
The explosion is far from Jiuquan’s launch infrastructure and is unlikely to impact other launch-related activity at the site. CASIC meanwhile uses transport erector launchers for its rockets.
CASIC, through its subsidiary Expace, operates a pair of solid rockets known as Kuaizhou-1A and the larger Kuaizhou-11. Neither entity has made an announcement on the explosion and it is unclear how the event will impact one or both of the launchers. Expace stated it held product quality reviews and…
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