Rocket Critical To China’s Space Program Blows Up Just 85 Seconds After Launch

August 10, 2026 12:57 PM ET China’s space program suffered a major setback Monday when a Long March 7A rocket carrying an unknown payload exploded shortly after launching from the Wenchang Space Launch Site in southern China.Witnesses who observed the launch from the facility explained that they saw “a bright flash of light” which was “followed by what appeared to be ​multiple glowing ​fragments,” according to Reuters.Video footage of the launch appeared to show that the rocket was climbing normally for 85 seconds before a dramatic breakup sent out a bright flash of light and debris spreading across the sky. The exact cause of the failure has not been made clear.China's Long March 7A has exploded during first stage flight.https://t.co/8Ije1oeWe7 pic.twitter.com/qNa1nIYH6T— NSF - NASASpacef