Produced by: Tarun Mishra Designed by: Manoj Kumar
On Saturday, June 22, a joint spacecraft mission between China and France encountered a dramatic setback shortly after launch.
The Long March 2-C rocket, carrying the Space Variable Objects Monitor (SVOM) satellite, took off from the Xichang Satellite Launch Centre at 3:00 am local time.
During the launch, a booster from the rocket plummeted back to Earth unexpectedly, landing in a populated residential area.
Videos capturing the incident circulated widely on social media, showing residents fleeing in panic as the booster exploded near their homes.
The booster contained a hazardous mixture of nitrogen tetroxide and unsymmetrical dimethylhydrazine (UDMH), known for their toxicity to humans.
Despite the mishap, Chinese authorities declared the mission a success as the SVOM satellite achieved orbit, aiming to study distant stellar explosions like gamma-ray bursts.
This mission marked the first joint spacecraft venture between China and France, underscoring China’s growing prowess in space exploration and scientific collaboration with global partners.