The Long March 7A rocket was carrying the ChinaSat-4B satellite when the incident unfolded.A Chinese rocket set to launch a communication satellite into orbit exploded seconds after liftoff on Monday.The Long March 7A rocket carrying the ChinaSat-4B satellite erupted into massive fireball after developing an in-flight anomaly after blasting off from the Wenchang Space Launch Site on the island of Hainan on Monday night. The Long March 7A is a medium-lift rocket designed for high-orbit missions.Videos surfaced on social media showed the rocket conducting a successful lift-off, which was followed by explosion roughly 85 seconds after the take-off. Both the rocket and the ChinaSat-4B satellite were destroyed in the explosion.WATCH: Chinese Long March 7A (CZ-7A) rocket exploded during first-stage flight, roughly 85 seconds after liftoff from the Wenchang Space Launch Site in Hainan.It was the vehicle's 18th flight and only its second failure.pic.twitter.com/YSNgGVmylL— Clash Report (@clashreport) August 10, 2026According to China’s Xinhua news agency, the rocket blasted off at 8:02 pm (local time) and that the mission was unsuccessful.The videos showed the rocket carrying the satellite turning into a fireball before it reached the orbit. The cause behind the failure is under investigation.The Express Global Desk at indianexpress.com which delivers authoritative, verified, and context-driven coverage of key international developments shaping global politics, policy, and migration trends. The desk focuses on stories with direct relevance for Indian and global audiences, combining breaking news with in-depth explainers and analysis. A major focus area of the desk is US immigration and visa policy, including developments related to student visas, work permits, permanent residency pathways, executive actions, and court rulings. The Global Desk also closely tracks Canada’s immigration, visa, and study policies, covering changes to study permits, post-study work options, permanent residence programmes, and regulatory updates affecting migrants and international students. All reporting from the Global Desk adheres to The Indian Express’ editorial standards, relying on official data, government notifications, court documents, and on-record sources. The desk prioritises clarity, accuracy, and accountability, ensuring readers can navigate complex global systems with confidence. Core Team The Express Global Desk is led by a team of experienced journalists and editors with deep expertise in international affairs and migration policy: Aniruddha Dhar – Senior Assistant Editor with extensive experience in global affairs, international politics, and editorial leadership. Nischai Vats – Deputy Copy Editor specialising in US politics, US visa and immigration policy, and policy-driven international coverage. Mashkoora Khan – Sub-editor focusing on global developments, with a strong emphasis on Canada visa, immigration, and study-related policy coverage. ... Read MoreStay updated with the latest - Click here to follow us on Instagram