The Untold Story of the Intelsat 708 Accident

On February 15, 1996, a Chinese Long March 3B rocket carrying the cutting-edge American satellite Intelsat-708 attempted to lift off on its maiden launch. However, it rapidly veered off course and crashed into a hill a few kilometers away. This incident is not only one of the most spectacular launch accidents caught on film but also one of the most consequential. The failure led to a long-lasting rift between the US and Chinese space industries, resulting in a decoupling of the Chinese space sector. Additionally, it sparked a controversy regarding the death toll. In this episode, we provide a detailed explanation of the launch’s context, how the crash occurred, and the short- and long-term consequences for both the US and China If you like what you see and would like to support me, please consider joining our small Patreon community at ! We also have some very cool space merch available at . 00:00 Some context: Intelsat 708 & the Long March 3B 01:30 The 1980s and 1990s: warming US-China relations 02:44 The accident 03:52 What happened, where, and how? 05:16 The controversy on the death toll 06:34 A strong reaction in Washington, D.C. 07:25 The Cox Report 08:43 Short and long-term consequences 10:45 Future prospects for international & Sino-US relations in space Some great sources for additional reading (English): Past CCTV interviews and reports are also a gold mine for details (in Chinese)