China's space programme will rebound from setbacks

Significance

China's ambitious space programme suffered a setback last month when the newest and most powerful addition to the Long March rocket family, the Long March-5, was destroyed by a malfunction shortly after a launch. This was the third and most serious Long March failure over the past year.

Impacts

• The consistency of political commitment to China's space programme will not waver.
• China's space industry will integrate itself into the Belt and Road Initiative.
• China is unlikely to allow its space industry the autonomy and freewheeling entrepreneurialism that characterises 'New Space' in the West.