China’s Long March 12B Rocket Succeeds on Maiden Flight

China’s new Long March 12B (CZ-12B) carrier rocket completed a successful maiden flight on June 1, 2026, deploying two satellites for the Qianfan (“Thousand Sails”) internet constellation and marking a significant milestone in the country’s rapidly expanding commercial space sector. The rocket lifted off at 16:40 CST from the Dongfeng Commercial Aerospace Innovation Experimental Zone at the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center, according to Xinhua News.

Developed by the China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation (CASC) Commercial Rocket Co., Ltd. (“China Commercial Rocket”), the Long March 12B is a two-stage, liquid oxygen/kerosene-fueled vehicle standing approximately 72 meters tall with a diameter of 4.37 meters. It is currently China’s most powerful single-core rocket, capable of delivering at least 20 tons to low Earth orbit (LEO) in expendable mode and approximately 12 tons in reusable configuration.

Rapid Development and Design Innovations

The rocket’s development timeline is remarkable: just 21 months from initial design drawings to maiden flight. Design work began around September 2024, the rocket entered prototype phase in March 2025, and the flight model was completed by November 2025. A successful static fire test of the integrated first stage was conducted on January 16, 2026, as reported by Science and Technology Daily.

The first stage is powered by nine YF-102R engines, each in the 100-ton thrust class, producing a combined liftoff thrust of 800 tons (7,515 kN). The second stage uses a single vacuum-optimized YF-102RV engine with re-ignition capability. Both engine types burn liquid oxygen and kerosene, a propellant combination chosen for performance and cost efficiency.

Technological Breakthroughs

The Long March 12B incorporates several notable innovations:

Weight reduction: The development team achieved a 30-40% reduction in cable network mass through lightweight wiring design. The payload fairing uses a glass fiber reinforced honeycomb sandwich structure, and the rocket features an integrated tail section design with large-diameter common bulkhead propellant tanks.

Intelligent flight control: Both the first and second stages are equipped with independent flight control computers that communicate with each other, forming what the team describes as a “smart brain.” The system features fault diagnosis and reconfiguration software capable of millisecond-level monitoring of all nine first-stage engines, automatically detecting anomalies and redistributing control commands to healthy engines.

Time-Sensitive Networking (TSN): The rocket employs TSN high-speed bus technology, which creates dedicated “fast lanes” for critical data over standard Ethernet, ensuring synchronized operation across all onboard systems. Future iterations could connect with mobile phones for real-time data and video transmission.

Commercial and Strategic Significance

The Long March 12B’s maiden flight successfully deployed the 10th batch of Qianfan constellation networking satellites — two satellites for Polar Orbit Group 08 — into their predetermined polar orbit. The Qianfan constellation, operated by Shanghai Yuanxin Satellite Technology Co., is China’s answer to SpaceX’s Starlink, with plans for over 10,000 low-Earth orbit satellites providing global broadband internet coverage.

As noted by Guangming Online, the rocket’s successful entry into the launch service market “will provide a highly competitive option for China’s commercial aerospace launches, promoting the leap from ‘capability availability’ to ‘optimal efficiency’ in space resource allocation.”

The rocket is positioned as a commercial主力 (mainstay) for large-scale internet constellation networking, simultaneously meeting the dual requirements of high payload capacity and low cost. The development team explored multiple approaches to balance technology and economics, achieving significant reductions in per-unit-mass launch costs through supply chain optimization and adoption of automotive-grade components where possible.

Reusability and Future Plans

While the Long March 12B is designed for partial reusability through first-stage recovery, the maiden flight did not attempt a landing. According to Space.com, CASC officials stated that recovery tests “will be carried out at a later date.” This mirrors the approach taken by SpaceX with the Falcon 9, which the Long March 12B closely resembles in configuration — both are two-stage, kerosene-fueled rockets with nine-engine first stages and reusable boosters.

The launch was conducted without prior issuance of a NOTAM (Notice to Air Missions), which international observers noted as unusual. The flight was the 647th mission of the Long March rocket series.

What to Watch For

The Long March 12B’s success adds a critical capability to China’s launch infrastructure at a time when the country is rapidly expanding its satellite internet ambitions. Key developments to monitor include the timing of the first-stage recovery demonstration, the rocket’s target launch cadence, and whether it will eventually be offered to international customers. China Commercial Rocket is steadily advancing reusable technology through what it describes as a “step-by-step verification and continuous iteration” approach, positioning the Long March 12B as a cornerstone of China’s commercial space future.