Launches / Long March 12A

Past launch Launched successfully

Demo Flight

Long March 12A, flown by China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation

Long March 12A lifting off with the Demo Flight mission
Image via The Space Devs.

This was China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation's 65th launch of 2025, and its 566th in all.

Counting every operator, it was the 317th orbital launch attempt anywhere in 2025, and the first from Long March 12 series Pad.

Launched
Tuesday, Dec. 23, 2025, 2:00 a.m. UTC
Window
Tuesday, Dec. 23, 2025, 1:54 to 4:14 a.m. UTC
Launch site
Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center, China
Rocket
Long March 12A
Operator
China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation

The mission

First test launch of CASC/SAST’s Long March 12A rocket, with a dummy payload. The rocket’s 1st stage attempted to land on a landing pad about 300 km downrange of the launch site.

Type
Test flight
Destination
Low Earth orbit

The rocket

Long March 12A/Changzheng 12A (LM-12A/CZ-12A) is a reusable orbital launch vehicle developed by the Shanghai Academy of Spaceflight Technology (SAST) of the state-owned China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation (CASC). The rocket is based on the Long March 12, but extensively re-designed for first stage re-usability, and use of gas generator cycle methane/liquid oxygen powered rocket engines in both stages. The first stage uses 7 Longyun-70 engines designed and manufactured by the private company Jiuzhou Yunjian (JZYJ), while the second stage uses 1 YF-209V engine from CASC's Academy of Aerospace Liquid Propulsion Technology (AALPT). On launch missions where the first stage is recovered, it will land on a down-range landing pad located in Minqin County, Gansu Province.

Height
69 m
Built by
China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation
First flew
December 23, 2025
Lifts to low Earth orbit
12,000 kg
View 3 specifications Show less
Diameter
3.8 m
Thrust at liftoff
5,250 kN
Stages
2

One flight so far, successful. 0 boosters brought back from 1 attempt.

Wikipedia →

The operator

China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation

The China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation (CASC) is the main contractor for the Chinese space program. It is state-owned and has a number of subordinate entities which design, develop and manufacture a range of spacecraft, launch vehicles, strategic and tactical missile systems, and ground equipment. It was officially established in July 1999 as part of a Chinese government reform drive, having previously been one part of the former China Aerospace Corporation. Various incarnations of the program date back to 1956.

Sector
Government
Based in
China
Founded
1999
Run by
Lei Fanpei, Chairman & President

612 launches so far, 596 of them successful. The last 3 in a row went to plan.

english.spacechina.com → Wikipedia →

The launch site

It went up from Long March 12 series Pad at Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center, China.

See the pad on a map →

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