China’s first attempt at deploying a private rocket capable of delivering satellites into orbit faced a setback. Representatives from Beijing reported that the first and second stages of the ZQ-1 rocket functioned normally on October 27, but problems occurred with the third stage.
ZQ-1 was the first three-stage rocket created by a private company in China. A small private rocket managed to launch in May. A video from a Chinese news site showed how a 19-meter red and white rocket launched into a blue sky.
The company reported that the problems began after the activation of the second stage. Chinese media reports that the rocket transported the state television satellite CCTV. In a statement, the company is preparing that the decision to create a rocket for satellites is still correct and priority.
