Long March 12

The Long March 12 (LM-12, , CZ-12) is a Chinese kerolox medium-lift launch vehicle manufactured by Shanghai Academy of Spaceflight Technology. Capable of placing at least of payload in low Earth orbit (LEO) and at least in a Sun-synchronous orbit, it first launched in November 2024, from Wenchang Space Launch Site.

The CZ-12 has flown six launches up to June 2026, all to LEO with a Guowang satellite internet constellation payload. Its first stage is powered by four YF-100K engines while its second stage is powered by two YF-115 engines. It is more economical than the medium-lift/heavy-lift Long March 7, which was designed to become human-rated.

There are also two reusable versions of the rocket, Long March 12A and Long March 12B. The CZ-12A variant first flew in December 2025; it successfully reached orbit although the initial first-stage recovery attempt was not successful. The CZ-12B, a commercially-oriented variant, first flew in June 2026; first stage recovery was not attempted.

History and details CZ-12 On 26 February 2024, the China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation (CASC) released its annual "Blue Book" which detailed the company's launch plans for the coming year; one of the projects revealed in the Blue Book is the new Long March 12 medium-lift rocket. Long March 12 (CZ-12) is designed as a two-stage rocket: its first stage is powered by four YF-100K 1250 KN engines using RP-1 and liquid oxygen while its second stage is powered by two YF-115 180 kN engines also using RP-1/LOX. The rocket offers two payload fairing choices, one with a diameter of 5.2 metres and another with a diameter of 4.2 metres.

CZ-12 has a stage diameter of 3.8 metres, a first for China. It is launched from the new commercial launch site located at China's coastal spaceport in Wenchang.

The maiden launch of the new rocket occurred at 14:25 UTC on 30 November 2024 from the Hainan International Commercial Aerospace Launch Site. There were two payloads on the launch: the “Satellite Internet Technology Test Satellite” and the “Technology Test Satellite-3”. Notably, this launch featured the new YF-100K rocket engine in its initial orbital launch attempt; the engine is a critical component of the under-development superheavy-lift Long March 10 lunar rocket. In addition, the maiden launch of the CZ-12 also constitutes the debut launch from the new Hainan commercial launch site.

CZ-12A reusable variant

SAST introduced a variant with a reusable first stage, the Long March 12A (CZ-12A), on 23 December 2025. The initial attempt to recover the first stage of the new rocket during its December 2025 first flight was not successful although the rocket successfully placed a mass simulator in orbit. The CZ-12A employs rocket engines based on methane for fuel and liquid-oxygen for the fuel's oxidizer; the CZ-12A's methane-based first-stage engines are built by commercial providers. Despite the different fuel, it has the same 3.8 m diameter as the CZ-12.

CZ-12B reusable variant

The China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation Commercial Rocket Co., Ltd. (CACL) is also developing a more powerful variant of the CZ-12A carrier rocket, currently known as the Long March 12B. CACL is an R&D and operations oriented commercial joint venture that appears to operate under the state-owned China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation (CASC).

CZ-12B has a 4.37 m diameter (in contrast to the 3.8 m diameter of both CZ-12 and CZ-12A). A static fire test of the CZ-12B first stage took place on 16 January 2026 at the Dongfeng Commercial Space Innovation Test Zone within the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center, northwest China. Its first launch occurred on 1 June 2026.

Launch statistics CZ-12 only, not including CZ-12A or CZ-12B.

List of launches

Flight Number Serial number Date/Time (UTC) Launch site Payload Orbit Result Note 1 Y1 30 November 202414:25 Wenchang Commercial, LC-2 Hulianwang Jishu Shiyan 5AJSW-03 LEO Maiden flight of Long March 12. - First flight of YF-100K engines. - First launch from WC-LC-2 2 Y2 4 August 202510:21 Wenchang Commercial, LC-2 Hulianwang × 9 (SatNet LEO Group 07) LEO 3 Y3 10 November 202502:41 Wenchang Commercial, LC-2 Hulianwang × 9 (SatNet LEO Group 13) LEO 4 Y4 11 December 202523:00 Wenchang Commercial, LC-2 Hulianwang × 9 (SatNet LEO Group 16) LEO 5 Y5 19 January 202607:48 Wenchang Commercial, LC-2 Hulianwang × 9 (SatNet LEO Group 19) LEO 6 Y7 17 June 202602:44 Wenchang Commercial, LC-2 Huliangwang × 9 (SatNet LEO Group 22) LEO 7 Y8 16 August 202604:10 Wenchang Commercial, LC-2 Huliangwang × 9 (SatNet LEO Group 24) LEO 8 Y9 17 September 202600:32 Wenchang Commercial, LC-2 Huliangwang × 9 (SatNet LEO Group 25) LEO 9 ? 9 October 202619:25 Wenchang Commercial, LC-2 Huliangwang × 9 (SatNet LEO Group ??) LEO Planned

Long March 12

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