Long March 12A
| Function | Medium-lift launch vehicle |
|---|---|
| Manufacturer | Shanghai Academy of Spaceflight Technology |
| Country of origin | China |
| Size | |
| Height | ~69 m (226 ft 5 in) (w/ 4.2 m fairing) |
| Diameter | 3.8 m (12 ft 6 in) |
| Mass | 430,000 kg (950,000 lb) |
| Stages | 2 |
| Capacity | |
| Payload to LEO | |
| Altitude | 200 km (120 mi) |
| Mass | 12,000 kg (26,000 lb) expended, 9,000 kg (20,000 lb) reusable |
| Payload to SSO | |
| Altitude | 700 km (430 mi) |
| Mass | ~5,000 kg (11,000 lb) |
| Associated rockets | |
| Family | Long March |
| Comparable | |
| Launch history | |
| Status | Active |
| Launch sites | JSLC LM-12 Pad |
| Total launches | 1 |
| Success(es) | 1 |
| First flight | 23 December 2025 02:00 UTC |
| First stage | |
| Powered by | 7 × Longyun-70 |
| Maximum thrust | 5,495 kN (1,235,000 lbf) |
| Propellant | LOX / CH4 |
| Second stage | |
| Powered by | 1 × YF-209V |
| Maximum thrust | 940 kN (210,000 lbf) |
| Propellant | LOX / CH4 |
The Long March 12A (Chinese: 长征十二号甲运载火箭; pinyin: Chang Zheng 12A, abbreviated LM-12A or CZ-12A), is a Chinese reusable medium-lift launch vehicle carrier rocket. The rocket has two stages and its first stage is designed to be reused after stage-recovery via propulsive landing. Both stages of the rocket will use methane (CH4) and liquid oxygen (LOX) for propulsion. The rocket is manufactured by Shanghai Academy of Spaceflight Technology (SAST); current information suggests that it is designed to place approximately 5 tonnes into a Sun-synchronous orbit. The first flight is expected to occur in December 2025 from the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center.
Development History
On June 23, 2024, SAST conducted its first VTVL test article for CZ-12A at the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center, likely the same test pad used for iSpace's VTVL experiments.[1] The test article featured three engines, the center of which would remain on during the entire flight. It also features landing legs, which successfully deployed for the landing. The test lasted around 5 minutes, reaching a maximum altitude of around 10 km (6.2 mi) [2]
On 19 January 2025, SAST launched a VTVL test-stage to a height of 75 km (47 mi) to simulate the launch and recovery of the first stage of the future CZ-12A.[3] The outcome of the test is unknown.[4]
In August 2025, SAST conducted a static fire test of the upper stage of the CZ-12A at the Haiyang Oriental Spaceport [5]
Launch statistics
- Failure
- Partial failure
- Success
- Planned
List of launches
| Flight No. |
Serial No. | Date/Time (UTC) |
Launch site | Payload | Orbit | Outcome | Booster Recovery |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Y1 | 23 December 2025 02:00 UTC[6] |
JSLC LM-12A Pad | Satellite Internet Technology Demonstration Satellite, JSW-03 |
LEO | Success | Failure |
| First flight of the reusable CZ-12A variant. | |||||||
See also
- Long March 12
- Comparison of orbital launcher families
- Comparison of orbital launch systems
- Reusable launch vehicle
- Expendable launch system
- Lists of rockets
Launch systems of comparable class and technology
(Reusable methane-fueled medium lift-off systems)
- LandSpace Zhuque-3 – Partly reusable Orbital launch vehicle by LandSpace of China
- i-Space Hyperbola-3 – Chinese space launch company
- Rocket Lab Neutron – Partially-reusable medium-lift launch vehicle
- Soyuz-7 – Proposed reusable Russian rocket design
References
- ^ Congram, Jack (June 25, 2025). "Rocket hopping season begins in China! [CASC-SAST 10km Test Flight]". China in Space. Retrieved September 20, 2025.
- ^ "长征12r 10kmvtvl试验现场视频". bilibili. June 3, 2025. Retrieved September 20, 2025.
- ^ Jones, Andrew (2 January 2025). "China to debut new Long March and commercial rockets in 2025". spacenews.com. Retrieved 3 January 2025.
- ^ "China performs high altitude reusable rocket test with uncertain outcome". SpaceNews. 20 January 2025.
- ^ "海商发团队自研"东方航天港"号助力星途探索，创下海上高频次连续发射新纪录！". 海商发. 23 August 2025.
- ^ "Demo Flight | Long March 12A | Next Spaceflight". nextspaceflight.com. Retrieved 2025-12-22.