A Chinese Static Fire Turns Into A Launch | This Week In Spaceflight

In this week's episode, a Chinese company accidentally launched their rocket during a static fire test! We'll also discuss whether Russia can meet its ambitious schedule for their upcoming space station. Plus, get updates on RFA, Stoke Space, Blue Origin, and a delay in New Glenn’s maiden mission. All this and more in your latest spaceflight update!
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🤵 Hosted by Ryan Caton (@DPodDolphinPro)
🖋️ Written by Martijn Luinstra.
🎥 Footage from: D Wise, Space Coast Live, Starbase Live, Firefly Aerospace
Roscosmos, Rocket Factory Augsburg, Stoke Space, Blue Origin, Space Pioneer, SpaceX, NASA, Russian Ministry of Defence, Rocket Lab, HEO, CCTV, JAXA, ESA.
✂️ Edited by Ryan Caton (@DPodDophinPro).
💼 Produced by Kevin Michael Reed (@kmreed).
🔍 If you are interested in using footage from this video, please review our content use policy: www.nasaspaceflight.com/conte...
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[@Imagine_Beyond]

The Chinese forgot to check their staging

[@jblob5764]

It didnt fly safe

[@Nick-yj9dt]

Fr

[@moodmusicytc]

"credit: a person in china" 🤣🤣🤣

[@ra.japanfrcs4274]

It like 1 shot 2 birds, they do both static fire test and launch test

[@SebastianWellsTL]

Leave it to the Chinese to find a way to ignore safety while speeding up the design process! 😂

[@dj_spare]

Chinese spokesperson: "Mission failed successfully"

[@corbindallasmultipass]

The irony of a Chinese rocket company calling itself a pioneer is hilarious! They should call themselves space copy cats

[@Durgonvr]

Fr

[@Argentvs]

Why?. They are doing it themselves, they have no external help, data, nothing. US industries always copied european designs when it industrialized.

[@IanDavidH]

Wasn't it the Germans that invented rockets? You could say anyone after that is a copy cat.

[@Argentvs]

@@IanDavidH rockets where invented by China in fact, a millennia before Europe even get to know gunpowder. When Europeans were putting cannons on ships, Asians where using iron armor on theirs and rocket arrows to pen enemy ships. And the basis of rocket science was developed by Russia during the 19th century and WWI. In fact the Lunar landing plan was written by a Russian self taught rocket enthusiasts ON A TRENCH during World War 1. NASA ended up using his forgotten writings after all their ideas were impractical.

[@IanDavidH]

@@Argentvs I meant the V2, not some fireworks lol

[@the_Texas_Bandit]

Saw my first Starlink Train on July 4, 2024 @ 4:30 am in East Houston Texas . Counted a procession of 11 satelittes in orbit, moving sw to ne at about 50 degree or so inclination. The sun far over the eastern horizon had risen at the satellites altitude, and they reflected quite brightly. Bright as any of the stars in the sky, even Sirius. I do not know how many I missed, but had a great 4th watching the train of technology fly by with my morning coffee.

[@DebraJean196]

Well done as always Ryan. Your crisp and concise delivery allows for a large amount of information to be given clearly in a short period of time! Much appreciated!!!!!!

[@olafmesschendorp147]

Stoke Space succeeding in firing a full flow staged combustion cycle engine is a huge deal

[@gaius_enceladus]

@olafmesschendorp147 - I hadn't heard that - that's great! Really good to see up-and-coming companies like them! Firefly Aerospace and Rocketlab too. Hopefully there are even more out there.

[@59seank]

Thanks Ryan. I appreciate your easy to understand narration.

[@SebastianWellsTL]

Static fire becomes dynamic fire!

[@peteralthoff6920]

Thanks Ryan and team. Now what did I learn from this week's update? 1) Space Pioneers unplanned Launch looked better then some planned Launches I have seen. 2) Jeff Bezos needs an Erector for his rocket.

[@Lu.capuchino]

The "static" fire got further than ABLs first launch 😂

[@gaius_enceladus]

@peteralthoff6920 - "Jeff Bezos needs an Erector for his rocket." I tried an erector but it didn't work so I changed to Viagra. Just kidding..... ;)

[@elwin_tjustice45]

The Chineese rocket looks EXACTLY like SpaceX. Shocker!! I'm sure it's just coincidence 🤔

[@corrinastanley125]

Thanks Ryan and NSF team. Lol credits " a person in China ". How do you say oops, my bad in Chinese ??.

[@WayCoolJr27]

SpaceX is years ahead of these companies.

[@SebastianWellsTL]

More like decades!

[@tobiasdelafuente2032]

@@SebastianWellsTLfr😂

[@MrKellymcilrath]

Great This Week In Spaceflight Ryan! Thank you!

[@mozzerellaman]

Thanks as always for the awesome coverage!

[@waynzignordics]

These videos keep getting better. I like the new graphics showing launch information for each rocket.

[@mikedicenso2778]

The Blue Origin footage of the TE and quick disconnect test was not at full frame rate. Even still, it's great to see more real progress towards first launch, and now we need to see the rollout of the WDR and static fire article.

[@grumpygreg7505]

Love your (Ryan's) presentations in General. The team producing this, as well as yourself, deserve high praise. This one which contained a whole lot of "not SpaceX" commentary was really on top. I really like SpaceX but seeing what the rest of the world is up to is extra super nice. Blessing's y'all from Texas!

[@DaGamerist]

Absolutely hate Ryan's presentation. Every video with Ryan is a skip.

[@nakfan]

Totally agree 👍

[@Ron4885]

​@@DaGamerist😳

[@nakfan]

Spacewalks or EVAs are not for the faint hearted. It is the most risky part of any mission when in orbit. Hopefully everything goes well…

[@josephdidonna1956]

1 billion people and not one person flicked the strap and said "That ain't going nowhere."?

[@travisyayes6343]

Equivalent to having the straps break during a dyno run

[@dphuntsman]

GOOD NEWS: I truly do look forward to this report every Friday morning. NITPICK OF THE DAY: on the two pages of launch statistics- which are great- label them with the period they cover; i.e, “Jan-June ‘24’, since people like me take screenshots of them! Thanks!! - Dave Huntsman

[@PhazzeeYeehaw]

Tianlong-2's thrust is wrong, 630kN is for one engine, it has three lol

[@ricktaylor5397]

Someone removed the “NO” sticky note from the big red launch button.

[@donaldsmith8648]

Your voice would make a great James Bond villain 😅.. love this channel

[@banzaibadger]

The voice is what made me close the video immediately.

[@David-yo5ws]

@@banzaibadger So you were stirred, not shaken. :-)

[@patricklewis7636]

I find it bizarre that the Chinese test that kind of thing in such a populated area.

[@Wrangler-fp4ei]

Their government is indifferent, given how large the population is. I'm not saying their government total disinterested in the population, but goals of the state come first I suspect.

[@jackfrost3573]

I wonder if there WAS a "Made in China" sticker on it?

[@AwardQueue]

The DJI drones and Insta360 action cameras are all famous worldwide. You make no sense.

[@SmellyHam]

Thank you, @@AwardQueue. Your account has been credited with +5 social credit points, authorizing your temporary release from the Laojiao re-education center for disobedient adults. Remember this mercy. Eternal glory to Xi Jinping.

[@AwardQueue]

@@SmellyHam ​middle finger for you.

[@AwardQueue]

@@SmellyHam 50 cents here，hold it.🏧

[@SpaceflightExplained]

I will say the same again. Elysia, you look different today.

[@Wrangler-fp4ei]

Hope she just on vacation. Their not mentioning her at all now. Last one she was in, sound was totally off as was her voice.

[@nirbhay_raghav]

Well, thats what happens when you try to copy paste rocket designs from KZbin videos.

[@escom2006]

Elysia on vacation?

[@NASASpaceflight]

She will be back next week. --kmr

[@therealjamespickering]

No one was hurt when the rocket crashed. They were all completely dead.

[@ryann6919]

More awesome coverage! Thanks guys!

[@jerwahjwcc]

I think you need a new column for unexpected flying static fires to the tally slide

[@jamani1086]

Hi Ryan! Thanks for this great report!

[@MeAndMyRoyalEnfield]

Sure wish you used Chapters!

[@GerardHammond]

I really like the simple earth sphere and launch direction line as I normally have no idea where these rockets a launching. and I have been a L2 Member for 4 years

[@MicahTischler]

Congratulations on having terraformed Mars! (The current state of your channel membership badge, I mean.)

[@xrion236]

What an amazing engine from Stoke!

[@billsimpson604]

Stupid to put very expensive satellites on an inaugural flight of a new rocket. NASA had better keep their fingers crossed.

[@user-bp4dd1hh5d]

A totally concise and awesome report Ryan.... UR the best!!!!

[@mr.spockito]

TWIS is definitely great to watch and I'm excited each time it comes up in my feed, good job NSF 🚀

[@mikes8510]

Boss: Hey Joe, did you install the bolts on the hold down clamps? Joe (Ex-Boeing): Bolts? What bolts?

[@kamikazeuk2434]

Fantastic as always. Thanks team NSF.....

[@Oldman5261]

You would think that if the Chinese are going to all the trouble to make an exact copy of Falcon 9 that they would have also made an exact copy of the static test clamp down structure. 🤔

[@JenniferA886]

Great job… however, please include the time stamps. Thanks 👍👍👍

[@williamdrake2315]

TOFU hold down clamps?

[@Wrangler-fp4ei]

I think it was mix both, Clamps and the attachments to the booster self were to blame.

[@tobsta30]

Rocket test facility a couple kms from a nearby village. What could go wrong 😕

[@rogerc7960]

Amazing

[@HicSvntDracones]

The Chinese are use to it, theyve been dropping stages on villages for decades.

[@metocvideo]

Chinese authorities would say there were no casualties, whether there were or not. Dropping several tons of hydrazine within a kilometre of a village is a disaster dependent on the wind direction.

[@starship8960]

when will skylon of uk have static testing?

[@johnlinglmtct8653]

Love your voice and clarity of speech Ryan. Are you purposely speaking faster now than previously? May I suggest a slightly slower and more relaxed pace as before. Anyway I love your video presentations. You are perfect for this job. Anyway, NSF is really as good as it gets. Excellent job to the whole team at NSF!

[@Star_bun0]

the bots wtf, great video though!

[@natalieauroraphoto]

I wasn't aware that was something a static fire could do..

[@ATrainGames]

I feel like I saw this movie once... Space Camp the movie. 😆 Though I think that was just a "test" but the meddling robot messed with the sensors so the shuttle had to be launched. Someone is DEFINITELY going to be fired over this.

[@Spacenoodlesisgreat]

1:20 which person?

[@gamemeh]

Are my eyes failing me or.. do we still have focus issues on Ryan shots? - Otherwise, great video with data-blast style info! Thanks.

[@MongoosePreservationSociety]

First launch to be three months to the left

[@Babyalpha1]

The rocket was not clipped down

[@steveturner3864]

Spacex is making the Chinese nuts trying to keep up lol

[@Veptis]

Is "a person in China" like a known entity or a wildcard

[@patriklindholm7576]

One might ask how and with what Roscosmos is going to fund their planned renewed space program, as the lion's part of the country's GNP is for the moment sadly being redirected to maintaining military capability.

[@FerociousPancake888]

Who thinks New Glenn will get off the ground this year? I’m skeptical and feel like calling it GroundGlenn™️

[@dphuntsman]

Well, as Pioneer proved in the past week, sometimes getting OFF the ground is, er, easier than it should be….The question is, will NG actually complete its Mars trajectory mission this year? My prognostication, unfortunately, is no. - Dave Huntsman

[@peterjorgensen3]

Timestamp for accidental launch?

[@southofhollywood4199]

I'm not a China hater but why do the Chinese lunar lander and space suites look so much like old US gear?

[@harrybaulz666]

Rushins? Your absolutely kidding right? Rushins hahahahahaha

[@SpacemanSpliff101]

How afraid should Elon be about the coming Hurricane Beryl? How safe do you think his huge buildings are from the windspeeds of the coming storm?

[@JLitten48]

Static test goes wrong.... No one's hurt.... After it goes crazy and blows up in the ground..... Sounds legit. No reason to question those statistics! I mean look how good they are at stuff with the word static in them!!!! Lmfao

[@Shivaho]

Looks more like a missstaticfire test

[@the_str4ng3r]

Tofu dreg test stand!

[@benjaminjohnson1397]

Where is Elysia

[@martinusamsterdam7667]

That is what you get with trying to copy everything, chances are you get fails.. :)

[@S1nwar]

the chinese have vast deserts and coastlines and launch their stuff in inhabited inland regions, so dum

[@AwardQueue]

This is a research and test site, not a launch site. The launch site is located in west-north Gobi of China.

[@MrCPPG]

It is pronounced "meh thane" not "me thane".

[@paulmoffat9306]

For Russia and China, their 'civilian' space program is a 'Flag Waving' opportunity, but the reality, is that BOTH countries are in an economic free-fall, and may simply not have enough cash to work on an expensive venture like that together, for several years into the foreseeable future.

[@tankourito5419]

No they aren't lmao.

[@joaohenriqueneuhaus2023]

If this happened during a falcon 9 test, SpaceX would be grounded for Years. Will it happen with space pioneer? Hahaha, surem

[@armchairobserver4747]

Welcome to 5h!tty Rocket Company, take order preese!

[@dublux9878]

spare poionneer :D copy cat maybe?

[@zvenlin]

rocket too powerful lol, need better bolt engineer

[@dphuntsman]

If you watch the drone footage, the rocket didn’t pull off the, er, ‘pad’…..it Twisted off, and continued rotating. There was a failure in torsional strength somewhere - maybe on the rocket itself??- but then again, why was there significant torsional stress to begin with? I’d love to see the failure report on this. - Dave Huntsman

[@AwardQueue]

The single TH-12 engine thrust is up to 120 tons. The maximum thrust of Tianlong-3 can reach 9X120 tons(120% output).

[@dmytrospikin748]

My thumb is No. 1000 🎉

[@alexisdespland4939]

WHO PRESSED THE WRONG BUTTON.

[@jormungandrtheworldserpent8382]

its crazy the difference between the us and china and everyone else's launch cadence really hope this gap narrows in the coming years

[@pweedos8482]

@NASASpaceflight could you stop sending me member messages when im not even subbed please?

[@fwd79]

Ah, the _regular_ people hungover from 4th July celebrations I guess 😅 but a great job on it nevertheless, Ryan. Well done 👏👏

[@NASASpaceflight]

A lot of vacations and travels this month. --kmr

[@joshuawiggins3891]

Space Pioneer huh Pioneer of what bitting someone elses work part for part what a joke they might be able to make a copy but they will never make one as good as spaces and the carlessness of them when it come to rockets falling out of the sky is insane and poor blue just cant get it together lol I am team SpaceX 100%

[@lancekilkenny721]

😂

[@user-uk7fy7fe8j]

Hi

[@jamiew.2718]

Why so many spam/fake comments lmao

[@Star_bun0]

Frr

[@romec3435]

👀🚀🚧👍👾👾

[@nighttow8780]

Wow. This Chinese static fire thing has certainly become one extremely dead horse

[@nighttow8780]

Seriously, I know more about this Chinese static fire than I do about the activities taking place just outside my home

[@Norminal1]

No offence, but you would look better with a hair curler.

[@bartmannn6717]

You know you developed something really good when the Chinese are copying your product shamelessly 1:1.

[@bryanoneal7891]

And your telling me these guys made it to the moon and back?

[@robertbackhaus8911]

Which people? The company designing, building and unsuccessfully static firing a rocket have successfully launched a smaller rocket to LEO before, but that's it. Other people from the same country are manning a space station and have returned samples from the Moon, but that's hardly relevant.

[@user-uk7fy7fe8j]

Second

[@HombreDeLaNorte]

I think he’s a decent presenter, but he’s also a bit of a distraction.

[@marh122]

Ryan I have said it before I will say that again, please when you pronounce L, put your toungue to the front of your mouth, not to the back of your throat, it will make massive difference

[@tankourito5419]

I find it weird that the one time you report on the Chinese space program, it's a failure of one of their tests. Even though they are easily the second most developed country in space now, and will within the next few years, become the first.

[@thedausthed]

They reported on it because of how the test failed, with the uncommanded launch of the test article and no, they will not be the most developed in space flight, they are at least a decade behind SpaceX.

[@IvanPlayStation4LiFe]

The USA is obesses with this failure many USA spcae companies had failures.

[@azieldaly2965]

USA doesn't drop rockets on their citizens houses.

[@StevenS.-up2pp]

Any US failure would be heavily reported everywhere as well

[@lorenzoangelucci1089]

yeah i mean 3 minuts of talking about chinese rocket failure sounds like we have not much to say except how much we are better than our stupid rival... don't like this... from no one...

[@JuhEffRee]

As soon as I see this guys face or hear his voice, I immediately turn on CC and turn the volume off. Sorry not sorry.

[@gregjohnson247]

Space ......... what a complete waste of time and money