Tianbing Technology Completes Fault Closure Review for Tianlong-3 Test Rocket

Tianbing Technology said the fault closure review for its Tianlong-3 Yao-1 launch vehicle flight test has been completed, according to Jiemian News. The company held a review meeting on September 9 and said experts concluded the problem had been accurately identified, the mechanism was clear, the fault had been reproduced, and corrective measures were effective. Tianlong-3 Yao-1 carried out its maiden flight test on April 3, 2026, at 12:17:19 p.m. in the Dongfeng Commercial Space Innovation Test Zone. According to Tianbing Technology, the rocket lifted off normally, reached design Max-Q at 110 seconds, completed all first-stage flight events at 177.2 seconds, separated normally at 182.2 seconds, and ignited the second-stage engine at 185.9 seconds before losing control at 189.5 seconds because the flight altitude was lower than expected. The company said the failure was traced to liquid oxygen discharged during flight being sucked into the rocket base, causing secondary combustion of first-stage engine turbine exhaust and scorching deformation of the thermal protection skirt connection structure. That allowed high-temperature gas to enter the first-stage aft compartment and trigger a fire. Tianbing Technology said the modified design has already passed a 200-second engine hot-fire test, and Tianlong-3 Yao-2 has completed final assembly and testing. The company expects to seek an opportunity for a return-to-flight in the fourth quarter of 2026.