Chinese rocket explodes after takeoff as Xi tries to keep up with Elon…

A Chinese Long March 7A rocket exploded 85 seconds after lift-off from the Wenchang launch site in Hainan on Monday, according to The Sun. The rocket, carrying the ChinaSat-4B communications satellite, suffered an “in-flight anomaly,” destroying both the launcher and payload. The failure — the first for the Long March 7A since 2020 — comes as Beijing races to close the gap with Elon Musk’s SpaceX. Musk reacted on X, saying “rockets are insanely hard” and wishing China a “speedy recovery.” Experts said the setback is unlikely to derail China’s broader space ambitions, including its upcoming Chang’e-7 lunar mission.