Although the Chinese rocket Long March 3B successfully launched two satellites into medium orbit around the Earth, the launch left a trail of destruction in its wake as the lower rocket boosters crashed into a house. Although there were no official reports — yet — the destruction was documented on Twitter in video, showing the obliterated home.
Visible in the video is toxic hypergolic propellant smoke.
This is the aftermath downrange following a Chinese Long March 3B launch from Xichang early Saturday. And that yellow smoke is very toxic hypergolic propellant. Source: https://t.co/VEh5X8Ors0 pic.twitter.com/22IVIpyJOk
— Andrew Jones (@AJ_FI) November 23, 2019
The rocket Long March 3B lifted off from Xichang Satelllite Launch Center 7:55pm Friday Nov 22. The upper stage delivered two Beidou satellites into orbit, at an altitude of 21,800 kilometres and “inclined by 55 degrees by Space-track.” [1]
Although hailed as the 28th successful orbital attempt for 2019, the earth-side destruction drew the most attention. The rocket has four side boosters which use a highly toxic hypergolic propellant — a combination of nitrogen tetroxide and hydrazine. Not surprisingly, so far there are no official news reports on the accident.
A previous launch destroyed a village
This is not the first accident. The first Long March 3B launch went out of control after launch, and engulfed a village in a fireball.
The Beidou satellites program are used in the Chinese GPS system, which is a national priority.
NOTES
[1] Space News
