The launch of China’s Zhongxing-9A communications satellite atop a Long March 3B rocket did not reach its planned orbital destination on Sunday, Chinese state media confirmed after several hours of silence following the midnight hour liftoff from the Xichang launch base.

China’s Long March 3B rocket lifted off from the Xichang Satellite Launch Center at 16:08 UTC on Sunday, thundering into the midnight hour with the Zhongxing-9A communications satellite headed to a highly elliptical transfer orbit.