Henan Province, July 1, 2024 — A space rocket owned by a Chinese private company, Space Pioneer, was mistakenly launched during a test and subsequently exploded in a mountain in central China's Henan province. The incident occurred at 3:43 PM local time on Sunday, according to a report by the BBC.

The video of the explosion has been widely circulated on social media, showing the "Tianlong-3" rocket catching fire as it descended back to Earth. The accident happened while the propulsion system of the "Tianlong-3" was being tested. Space Pioneer stated that a structural failure caused the rocket to separate from the platform during liftoff from the launchpad.

Fortunately, no casualties were reported. Chinese police confirmed the absence of any injuries resulting from the incident. Space Pioneer has issued a public apology for the mishap.

This incident raises concerns about the safety measures in place for private space ventures in China, as the country continues to expand its presence in the space industry. Authorities are expected to investigate the cause of the structural failure to prevent future occurrences.