Lightning Struck A Chinese "Changzheng-3B" Rocket During Launch

• 24.07.2026, 19:11

Video Fact.

Lightning struck the Chinese "Changzheng-3B" rocket about 30 seconds after it launched from the Xichang Space Center, according to Space. According to the China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation (CASC), the rocket successfully placed a communications satellite into orbit despite the strike.

A Long March 3B rocket was just struck by lightning shortly after its launch from Xichang.

This isn’t the first rocket to experience this; the Saturn V and Soyuz-2 were also struck by lightning, for example. No failures have been attributed to lightning… so far.pic.twitter.com/vrAqaGAnnC

— Techniques Spatiales (@TechSpatiales) July 23, 2026

This isn’t the first time lightning has struck a rocket after launch, notes Space. For example, in 1969, lightning struck the Saturn V rocket carrying NASA’s Apollo 12 mission.