The reason for the unsuccessful launch is not called, but an expert commission was set up to investigate the incident. As reported by Xinhua News Agency, the launch of the rocket took place from the Wenchang cosmodrome in Hainan province on July 2 at 19. 23 local time. The rocket was supposed to put into orbit the communication satellite Shijian-18.

This was the second launch of the Great Approach-5. The first was successfully held in early November last year. Then the launch vehicle brought to the geostationary orbit the experimental satellite Shijian-17.

Recall, May 16 it was reported that the test of the US missile engine BE-4, designed to replace the Russian RD-180, ended in failure.

As reported URA-Inform, the Great March-5 is the largest in China launch vehicle of the new generation. Its height is 56.97 meters, the diameter of the main stage is five meters. According to scientists, at its creation over 200 new technologies were used.