Space Pioneer has released a report on the failure of the maiden flight of its Tianlong-3 rocket, which took place on April 3, 2026, at the Dongfeng Commercial Aerospace Innovation Test Zone. The rocket launched at 12:17:19, but the mission was terminated at 189.5 seconds due to altitude loss.
The investigation identified the cause as liquid oxygen being sucked into the rocket's base, leading to secondary combustion of turbine exhaust gases. This caused structural deformation of the heat shield, allowing high-temperature gases to enter the tail compartment and trigger a fire.
The company established a task force to analyze telemetry data and conduct simulation tests to replicate the failure. Experts have confirmed that the root cause was accurately identified and that the implemented design improvements are effective for future flights.
Space Pioneer is now focusing on quality management and supply chain oversight to ensure the reliability of the Tianlong-3 system. The company is preparing for a follow-up flight mission while emphasizing strict risk control measures across all stages of development.
