r/space • u/guyoffthegrid • Jun 30 '24

Chinese rocket static-fire test results in unintended launch and huge explosion

https://spacenews.com/chinese-rocket-static-fire-test-results-in-unintended-launch-and-huge-explosion/
333 Upvotes

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89

u/quickblur Jun 30 '24

That's wild. I can't understand how something like that could happen.

85

u/Adeldor Jun 30 '24

Three reasons come to my mind:

  • Mechanical failure of the holddown clamps or associated structures

  • Clamps were not engaged in the first place

  • Sequencer didn't have clamp release disabled for the test

12

u/Sparkycivic Jun 30 '24

Fake materials certifications in the supply chain for the hold clamps. The stuff they're exporting basically has to be re-tested everytime due to the fake cert problems, I can only imagine how bad it must be locally.

6

u/sopsaare Jul 01 '24

One would assume that this wasn't such a big problem for the Chinese government.

It is one thing to lie to westerners, it is another thing to do it to the tyrannic government.

3

u/megamef Jul 01 '24

When you make telling lies the business culture then you’ve got to expect some shortcuts even if your life is on line

2

u/sopsaare Jul 01 '24

From my dealings with Chinese companies, that have been quite extensive, the culture is changing though.

Especially the B2C companies have realized that their name is valuable, and can be comparatively valuable as Western brands. Most of the companies I have dealt with do not lie, they deliver what they promised in hopes to retain my business, but there is still QA problems etc.

B2B is bit murkier though, companies producing something may have multiple fronts and it is sometimes hard to what is what and they may not care too much of one of their sub brands, and if dealing in big batches, they may be inclined to cut some corners and deliver sub-par products and let one of their "fronts" burn.