Tianlong-3 Rapid Unscheduled... Launch?

[tom66]

Looks like the Tianlong-3 launched a few months ahead of schedule.  A static fire test rapidly became a dynamic fire test when the clamps holding the rocket down failed somehow, resulting in the rocket launching unexpectedly.  The rocket went up to about 1.5km before the lack of any flight control software led to multiple in-flight engine and structural failures.

The rocket exploded when it collided with the ground (no on-board vehicle termination system on account of this not being a planned launch).  This makes for perhaps the first rapid unscheduled disassembly that wasn't as a result of a planned spaceflight attempt.  Someone needs to work on those ratchet straps.

The populated area nearby, a few km's from the launch site, was thankfully spared and no one was killed by the collision with the ground.

https://www.theguardian.com/science/article/2024/jul/01/china-tianlong-3-rocket-crash-accidental-launch-space-pioneer-gongyi

[MK14]

There is also, this from the BBC:
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/videos/c897xl1r7v9o

It's tricky to comment about this here, without accidentally straying into politics (which can lead to disagreements and the thread being locked), so I will (try to) keep quiet.

The company responsible for the rocket, Tianbing Technology said in a statement , [external link in actual article here, follow BBC link above, if you want to see it] that there was a "structural failure at the connection between the rocket body and the test bench", causing the rocket to take off.

The onboard computer automatically shut down, the statement said, and the rocket "fell into a deep mountain 1.5km southwest of the test bench".

[MK14]

Here is what seems to be an interesting, factual video about its recent demise.
In it, he explains about some of the fault(s), that occur, that shouldn't.
He also, contrasts it, to SpaceX's thing(s) (Falcon 9), which he is saying, they are a clone of.  It is around 10 minutes 38 seconds long.

[Alex Eisenhut]

I know I know wrong guy but whatever

[amyk]

Someone made a conversion error between PMPO and actual power?

[RJSV]

   A couple of relatives had gotten PREGNANT, unexpectedly, THAT WAY.   No pre-planned procedure, for handling,  when things just 'Take Off'.
   Crash was delayed, until next morning.

True, I swear!

[Whales]

Kerosene and liquid oxygen sounds polarised.  They need to pay attention to the silkscreen on the launch pad.

[Someone]

Someone made a conversion error between PMPO and actual power?

Real world: using a fractional margin of safety (as is typical for spacecraft and cargo) where inappropriate