Engineering:Long March 12B

From HandWiki
Short description: Chinese medium-lift reusable carrier rocket
Long March 12B
FunctionMedium-lift to heavy-lift launch vehicle
ManufacturerChina Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation Commercial Rocket Co., Ltd.
Country of originChina
Size
Height~72 m (236 ft 3 in)
Diameter4.37 m (14 ft 4 in)
Mass> 437,000 kg (963,000 lb)
Stages2
Capacity
Payload to LEO~20,000 kg (44,000 lb) expendable, 12,000 kg (26,000 lb) reusable[1]
Payload to SSO~12,000 kg (26,000 lb) expendable[1]
Associated rockets
FamilyLong March
Comparable
  • Long March 7
  • Long March 8
  • Long March 12
  • Angara A5
  • Ariane 6
  • Atlas V
  • Falcon 9
  • GSLV
  • H3
  • LVM3
  • Soyuz-2
  • Zenit 2
Launch history
StatusIn development
Launch sitesJSLC LM-12 Pad
Total launches0
First flightNET February 2026
First stage
Engines9 x YF102R[2]
Thrust7,515 kN (1,689,000 lbf)
Specific impulse275.3 seconds (2.700 km/s)
FuelRP-1 / LOX
Second stage
EnginesYF-102V[2]
Thrust835 kN (188,000 lbf)
FuelRP-1 / LOX

The Long March 12B (Chinese: 长征十二号乙运载火箭; pinyin: Chang Zheng 12B, abbreviated LM-12B or CZ-12B), is a planned Chinese reusable medium-lift to heavy-lift launch vehicle. 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 kerosene and liquid oxygen (LOX) for propulsion. The rocket is being developed by the China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation Commercial Rocket Co., Ltd. (CACL), operating under the state-owned China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation (CASC). The first flight of the rocket is anticipated to occur in 2026.[3]

History

CACL has described the CZ-12B as a 4-meter-diameter class rocket that will use a kerosene and liquid oxygen propellant mix, unlike the CZ-12A which use methane and liquid oxygen. CACL further describes the CZ-12B as having a “20-ton-class low Earth orbit carrying capacity”, this is likely in an expendable mode.[3]

A static fire test of the rocket's first stage occurred on 16 January 2026 at the Dongfeng Commercial Space Innovation Test Zone within the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in northwest China. First launch of the rocket is expected to occur in 2026.[3]

Launch statistics

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List of launches

Main article: Engineering:List of Long March launches
Flight
No. 		Serial No. Date/Time
(UTC) 		Launch site Payload Orbit Outcome Booster
Recovery
1 Y1 NET February 2026[1] JSLC LEO TBD Not attempted
First flight of the potentially reusable CZ-12B variant.


See also

Launch systems of comparable class and technology

(Reusable methane-fueled medium lift-off systems)

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 "Re: Inaugural launch - CZ-12B - JSLC - NET(?) March or before late January (Reply #2)". 16 January 2026. https://forum.nasaspaceflight.com/index.php?topic=64209.msg2751456#msg2751456. 
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 C, Jack (17 January 2026). "Reusable Long March 12B fires up ahead of first flight". china-in-space.com. https://www.china-in-space.com/p/reusable-long-march-12b-fires-up. 
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 Jones, Andrew (16 January 2026). "China conducts static fire test of new reusable Long March 12B rocket". spacenews.com. https://spacenews.com/china-conducts-static-fire-test-of-new-reusable-long-march-12b-rocket/. 




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