Cosmic Penguin

The failure of the 1st Long March 7A last March was never explained publicly, but just after the LM-8 flight last December there was an official report that the LM-7A 2nd stage "lost pressurization a few seconds after stage separation". http://www.spaceflightfans.cn/85001.html  (2/5)

The same article mentioned that vibration analysis were done on mock-ups for a pipe burst scenario. Alternatively there were rumors that the LM-7A reduced helium bottles capability on the 2nd stage from the LM-7 to save mass, but that turned out to be inadequate. (3/5)

There were testing issues pre-launch during engine gimbal tests too when it went too far & broke electric cables. Disputes were on w/ the structural dept. blamed inadequate testing procedures & the testing chief blamed inadequate cable alignment! http://t.cn/A64ZGyqY?m=4542691164034089&u=3279752321 … (4/5)

So after the successful LM-7A RTF the official results of this investigation was revealed, confirming the loss of pressurization theory...but that happened on 1 of the 4 boosters' engine inlet & not the 2nd stage as reported above. This happened at T+168s, 5 seconds before MECO.

From the words of CALT's LM-7 program vice-chief: "We clearly saw on the rocket cameras that the rocket disintegrated during 1st stage separation." An early shutdown on 1 of the boosters would easily knock off the LV's attitude as the (combined) 1st stage/boosters separate.