Long March 12B Rocket Launches, Boosting Commercial Space
China’s Long March 12B (CZ-12B) rocket successfully completed its maiden flight on June 1, 2026, deploying two Qianfan (Spacesail) constellation satellites into polar orbit and marking a significant milestone for the country’s rapidly expanding commercial aerospace industry. The launch took place at 16:40 Beijing time from the Dongfeng Commercial Aerospace Innovation Test Zone at the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center, according to CCTV News.
A Record-Breaking Development Cycle
The CZ-12B was developed in just 21 months from initial design to first flight, setting a new record for Chinese rocket development programs. The rocket stands approximately 72 meters tall with a diameter of 4.37 meters, making it the tallest single-core rocket ever successfully launched by China. It is powered by nine YF-102R liquid oxygen/kerosene engines on its first stage and one YF-102RV high-altitude engine on its second stage.
Liang Yanqian, an expert at the China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation (CASC) Commercial Rocket Company, told CCTV News that the development process involved “over 200 experiments and 50 key technologies,” with the team working “against the clock, completing each task solidly.” He emphasized that the CZ-12B’s development “is not a simple stacking of technologies, but a systematic reshaping oriented toward the commercial market.”
Designed for Mega-Constellation Deployment
With a payload capacity of approximately 20 tons to low Earth orbit (LEO) in expendable mode and 12 tons in reusable mode, the CZ-12B is currently China’s most powerful single-core rocket. The Xinhua News Agency reported that the rocket is specifically designed to support China’s massive LEO internet constellation deployment needs, with the capability to deploy 36 satellites per mission—equivalent to one orbital plane.
This launch was the 647th flight of the Long March series and the first of the CZ-12B variant. The rocket carried the Qianfan (Spacesail) Constellation Polar Orbit Group 08 satellites, part of China’s ambitious plan to deploy over 15,000 low-orbit satellites for global broadband internet coverage, with a target of completing over 10,000 satellite deployments by 2030.
Reusability and Cost Reduction
While the CZ-12B is designed for partial reusability through first-stage recovery, the maiden flight did not attempt recovery. Future missions will test this capability as the program matures. The rocket incorporates multiple cost-reduction strategies, including supply chain optimization and automotive-grade component adoption, aimed at reducing per-kilogram launch costs.
As The Paper reported, the rocket team adhered to a design philosophy of “high performance, high safety, high efficiency, and low cost,” exploring a research model driven by demand, technology, and commercial viability.
Rapid-Turnaround Launch Infrastructure
The launch utilized a self-built research-test launch pad constructed by the CASC Commercial Rocket Company (China Shanghuo). Sun Juncheng, a launch pad engineer, explained to CCTV News that the pad has a standard test-launch cycle of just 14 days and an annual launch capacity of 12 to 20 launches. “For continuous launches of the same rocket model, the switchover cycle is 5-7 days,” Sun said, highlighting the pad’s rapid-turnaround design.
The pad is designed to be compatible with multiple propellant types, including liquid oxygen/kerosene and liquid oxygen/methane, and can accommodate any rocket with a takeoff thrust below 1,000 tons and a 4-meter-class diameter.
Implications for China’s Commercial Space Sector
The successful launch of the CZ-12B represents a significant step in China’s aerospace reform, moving from purely state-directed programs toward a more market-driven, competitive model. The creation of the Commercial Rocket Company (China Shanghuo) and the rapid development of the CZ-12B demonstrate that China’s commercial space sector can operate at a much faster pace than traditional state aerospace programs.
The rocket is expected to become a workhorse for China’s two major LEO internet constellation plans: the national-level “GW” (Guowang) constellation and the commercially-driven Qianfan constellation, both of which entered intensive deployment phases in 2026.
What to Watch For
Industry observers will be watching for the timing of the first-stage recovery test, which will determine whether the CZ-12B can achieve cost parity with reusable competitors like SpaceX’s Falcon 9. The planned launch cadence for 2026-2027 and the rocket’s certification for national GW constellation launches will also be key indicators of its commercial success.
Liang Yanqian described the Commercial Rocket Company as “a pathfinder,” stating that it will “continue to fulfill our responsibility and mission as the main force of China’s commercial aerospace, further establishing rules and exploring models, hoping to form a replicable atmosphere and ecosystem that accelerates China’s aerospace.”