HELSINKI — A Chinese launch vehicle maker appears to have suffered an explosion at a test site at Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center.
Satellite images show what are likely test stand facilities and the apparent aftermath of an exhaust plume from a hot fire test on the desert surface. Charred debris can be seen scattered across the surrounding area.
The images were published by Harry Stranger, who uses satellite imagery to track space industry developments, on X, the social media platform formerly known as Twitter.
Stranger highlights a number of before and after images, using Planet optical, ESA Sentinel and Umbra radar imagery. The images help constrain the date of the explosion to between 0416 UTC, Nov. 21, and 0321, Nov. 22. An explosion occurred at the same facilities in October 2021.
https://spacenews.com/satellite-imagery-reveals-explosion-at-chinas-jiuquan-spaceport/