China's first privately-developed carrier rocket fails to enter orbit

(Photo/CGTN)

China's first privately-developed carrier rocket ZQ-1 failed to enter the earth's orbit after it lifted off from Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in northwest China's Gansu Province on Saturday.

The solid-propellant carrier rocket was developed by Landspace, a private Beijing-based company.

The company in a statement, posted on its official WeChat account, said that something went wrong with the rocket soon after the second stage separation.

It was the company's first attempt to build a rocket.

"We still believe that building rockets is the right strategy for the company. We are the first Chinese private company to build a three-stage carrier rocket. That's already a great achievement," said the statement.

"We will carry on with our dream for the vast space."

However, the company did not give any reasons behind the failure.

ZQ-1 being launched from Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in northwest China's Gansu Province /Landspace Photo

The 19-meter-long rocket, with a diameter of 1.35 meters, has a takeoff weight of 27 tons and a thrust of 45 tons.

ZQ-1 rocket mainly aims to carry out commercial launch for small satellites.

The payload for this time was the satellite "Future," built for China Central Television.