<p>China's ambitious space programme suffered a rare setback today as its new heavy-lift carrier rocket, the Long March-5 Y2 failed to put the country's largest satellite into orbit.<br /><br />An anomaly occurred during the flight of the rocket, which blasted off at 7:23 PM (local time) from Wenchang Space Launch Centre in southern province of Hainan, state-run Xinhua news agency reported. Further investigation will be carried out, it said.<br /><br />The blast which was telecast live initially appeared successful as the rocket blasted off seemingly without problem. But Xinhua later reported that the rocket launch has failed.<br /><br />The Long March-5 made its maiden flight in November 2016 from Wenchang, sending its payload into pre-set orbit.The rocket, carried the Shijian-18 satellite.<br /><br />The launch is the last test for the Long March-5 series before its mission to send the Chang'e-5 lunar probe into space in the latter half of this year, which will return with samples, the report said.<br /><br />With a weight of 7.5 tonnes, Shijian-18 is China's latest technology experiment satellite and the heaviest satellite China has ever launched into space, it said.<br /><br />It was aimed at testing China's new Dongfanghong-5 (DFH- 5) satellite platform and carry out in-orbit experiments including Q/V band satellite communication, satellite-ground laser communication technologies and an advanced Hull electric propulsion system, it said.<br /><br />China is carrying out massive space programme in recent years with missions to moon and manned missions to build a space station which is currently under construction.<br /><br />According to experts, the massive heavy rockets also have fined tuned China's missile power.<br /><br />The Long March-5 uses environmentally friendly fuel, including kerosene, liquid hydrogen, and liquid oxygen, rather than highly toxic propellants, it said.<br /><br />In April this year China has launched its first cargo spacecraft, Tianzhou-1, into space using the country’s heaviest Long March-7 Y2 carrier rocket to dock with the orbiting experimental space station which was expected to be operationalised by 2022. <br /><br />Tianzhou-1 was larger and heavier than Tiangong-2, which is 10.4 metres in length and has a maximum diametre of 3.35 meters, weighing 8.6 tonnes.</p>
<p>China's ambitious space programme suffered a rare setback today as its new heavy-lift carrier rocket, the Long March-5 Y2 failed to put the country's largest satellite into orbit.<br /><br />An anomaly occurred during the flight of the rocket, which blasted off at 7:23 PM (local time) from Wenchang Space Launch Centre in southern province of Hainan, state-run Xinhua news agency reported. Further investigation will be carried out, it said.<br /><br />The blast which was telecast live initially appeared successful as the rocket blasted off seemingly without problem. But Xinhua later reported that the rocket launch has failed.<br /><br />The Long March-5 made its maiden flight in November 2016 from Wenchang, sending its payload into pre-set orbit.The rocket, carried the Shijian-18 satellite.<br /><br />The launch is the last test for the Long March-5 series before its mission to send the Chang'e-5 lunar probe into space in the latter half of this year, which will return with samples, the report said.<br /><br />With a weight of 7.5 tonnes, Shijian-18 is China's latest technology experiment satellite and the heaviest satellite China has ever launched into space, it said.<br /><br />It was aimed at testing China's new Dongfanghong-5 (DFH- 5) satellite platform and carry out in-orbit experiments including Q/V band satellite communication, satellite-ground laser communication technologies and an advanced Hull electric propulsion system, it said.<br /><br />China is carrying out massive space programme in recent years with missions to moon and manned missions to build a space station which is currently under construction.<br /><br />According to experts, the massive heavy rockets also have fined tuned China's missile power.<br /><br />The Long March-5 uses environmentally friendly fuel, including kerosene, liquid hydrogen, and liquid oxygen, rather than highly toxic propellants, it said.<br /><br />In April this year China has launched its first cargo spacecraft, Tianzhou-1, into space using the country’s heaviest Long March-7 Y2 carrier rocket to dock with the orbiting experimental space station which was expected to be operationalised by 2022. <br /><br />Tianzhou-1 was larger and heavier than Tiangong-2, which is 10.4 metres in length and has a maximum diametre of 3.35 meters, weighing 8.6 tonnes.</p>