The Truth About China’s Space Program
The crash site of a Long March rocket launched by China in June 2024 highlights ongoing safety concerns surrounding the country’s space program. While Western nations focus on NASA, China’s rockets have been falling dangerously close to populated areas, releasing toxic orange gas. These incidents are not mere accidents; the first-stage rockets are intentionally allowed to fall on Chinese soil.
China’s space program has achieved significant milestones, including developing its own space station and successfully landing a rover on Mars. However, many are unaware of the risks involved, particularly with launches originating from the Xichang Satellite Launch Center in the mountainous interior instead of the eastern coastline. This choice is primarily about military protection but endangers nearby villages with each launch.
A tragic example occurred in 1996 when a Long March 3B rocket crashed into a village due to a malfunction, resulting in reported fatalities. The Long March rockets use hypergolic propellants, which are highly toxic and pose severe health risks. The oxidizer, nitrogen tetroxide, creates dangerous compounds upon contact with water, while the fuel, unsymmetrical dimethylhydrazine, is a proven carcinogen. This intern can cause cancer and other related diseases.
Overall, China shows that they are tolerable with putting their own citizens in danger for the sake of technological advancement. Despite potential alternatives, China continues this risky practice, notifying affected villages only to remain vigilant during launches. The situation raises significant concerns about public safety in the face of advancing aerospace ambitions.
Related Stories:
- https://phys.org/news/2023-12-china-space.html
- https://www.asiapacific.ca/publication/china-global-powers-celestial-ambitions
- https://www.theguardian.com/world/article/2024/may/05/the-new-space-race-what-are-chinas-ambitions-and-why-is-the-us-so-concerned
- https://orcasia.org/public/article/153/analyzing-the-chinese-space-programme-and-its-relevance-in-geopolitics
- https://www.cnn.com/2024/06/24/china/china-rocket-debris-falls-over-village-intl-hnk/index.html
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