Relive private Chinese rocket's explosive 1st landing attempt (video)

LandSpace’s Zhuque-3 rocket experienced a dramatic and unexpected failure during its initial landing attempt on November 26th, 2023, at the company’s test site in Jiuquan, China. The event involved a significant explosion following touchdown, marking a challenging beginning for the privately developed spacecraft. Newly released video footage captures the full extent of the incident, showcasing the rapid disintegration of the rocket upon impact with the ground. This first launch aimed to demonstrate LandSpace's capabilities in achieving vertical, controlled landings of large rockets. The unsuccessful mission highlights the complexities associated with developing reliable autonomous landing systems for space vehicles.