Chinese Long March 7A rocket carrying secretive high-orbit satellite explodes after liftoff

China’s Long March 7A rocket exploded shortly after liftoff, destroying the secretive ChinaSat-4B satellite before it reached orbit. The spacecraft is officially linked to a communications satellite series, with its complete capabilities and strategic role yet to be disclosed. ([Reuters][1])

New Delhi: China has suffered a rare space launch failure after a Long March 7A rocket carrying the ChinaSat-4B satellite broke apart shortly after lifting off from the Wenchang Space Launch Site in Hainan on Monday, August 10. The rocket launched at 8:02 pm Beijing time, but the mission ended before the satellite could reach orbit.

The loss has attracted interest outside China since high-orbit communications satellites can provide coverage across very large regions. Claims have circulated around a possible strategic or Indian Ocean surveillance role for the spacecraft, but this has not been confirmed by Chinese authorities or independent........

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