China’s space program suffers setback after rocket fails in mid-flight

China’s space program suffered a huge setback after its heavy-duty rocket failed in a mid-flight.

State media reports that a new heavy-duty rocket, the Long March 5 Y2, failed shortly after launch. Xinhua would only say that an “anomaly” occurred and that an “investigation” will follow, but it’s apparently serious enough that the 5 Y2’s satellite-carrying mission had to be scrapped altogether.

Read also: Twitter deploys tool that allows users flag ‘fake news’

This could easily hinder China’s plans in the near term. The country was supposed to send a probe to the Moon later this year — if it has to conduct a thorough inspection of its rockets and fix any bugs, it might have to put its lunar plans on hold.

That would reassure rival countries hoping to beat it to key space milestones, but it would also wound the pride of a nation determined to catch up to pioneers like the US and Russia.

RipplesNigeria ….without borders, without fears

Click here to download the Ripples Nigeria App for latest updates

Join the conversation

Opinions

Support Ripples Nigeria, hold up solutions journalism

Balanced, fearless journalism driven by data comes at huge financial costs.

As a media platform, we hold leadership accountable and will not trade the right to press freedom and free speech for a piece of cake.

If you like what we do, and are ready to uphold solutions journalism, kindly donate to the Ripples Nigeria cause.

Your support would help to ensure that citizens and institutions continue to have free access to credible and reliable information for societal development.

Donate Now