Long March 12B

Active Re-Usable

China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation (CASC)

None

Description

Long March 12B/Changzheng 12B (LM-12B/CZ-12B) is a reusable orbital launch vehicle developed by the China Aerospace Science and Technology Commercial Launch Vehicle Group (CACL), a subsidiary company 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 kerosene/liquid oxygen powered rocket engines in both stages. The first stage uses 9 YF-102R engines and the second stage uses 1 YF-102V engine, both 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.

Specifications
  • Stages
    2
  • Length
    72.0 m
  • Diameter
    4.37 m
  • Fairing Diameter
  • Launch Mass
  • Thrust
    7940.0 kN
Family
  • Name
    Long March 12B
  • Family
  • Variant
  • Alias
    CZ-12B
  • Full Name
    Long March 12B
Payload Capacity
  • Launch Cost
  • Low Earth Orbit
    20000.0 kg
  • Geostationary Transfer Orbit
  • Direct Geostationary
  • Sun-Synchronous Capacity
    15000.0 kg

China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation

Government
Chairman & President: Lei Fanpei
CASC 1999

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.

Upcoming Spaceflights


Long March 12B | Demo Flight

China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation | China
Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center, People's Republic of China
TBD March, 2026
Status: To Be Determined
Mission:

First test launch of CASC’s Long March 12B rocket.

Unknown
Explore Share

Long March 2C
Success
2 days, 18 hours ago
AlSat 3B
Launch Area 94 (SLS-2 / 603) - Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center, People's Republic of China

Earth observation satellite built by China's CAST for the Algerian Space Agency.


Falcon 9
Success
3 days, 15 hours ago
Starlink Group 6-101
Space Launch Complex 40 - Cape Canaveral SFS, FL, USA

A batch of 29 satellites for the Starlink mega-constellation - SpaceX's project for space-based Internet communication system.


Electron
Success
3 days, 21 hours ago
Bridging The Swarm (NeonSat-1A)
Rocket Lab Launch Complex 1A - Rocket Lab Launch Complex 1, Mahia Peninsula, New Zealand

The NeonSat-1A, carrying a high-resolution optical camera, is designed to test the constellation capabilities of the South Korean government's Earth …


Falcon 9
Success
4 days, 4 hours ago
Starlink Group 17-19
Space Launch Complex 4E - Vandenberg SFB, CA, USA

A batch of 25 satellites for the Starlink mega-constellation - SpaceX's project for space-based Internet communication system.


Falcon 9
Success
5 days, 17 hours ago
GPS III SV09
Space Launch Complex 40 - Cape Canaveral SFS, FL, USA

Ninth of ten GPS III missions.