Demo Flight
Long March 12A
China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation
Weather Forecast During Launch
The forecast calls for a temperature of 23°F, clear skies, 0% cloud cover and a wind speed of 5mph.
Mission
Demo Flight
- Type: Test Flight
- Orbit: Low Earth Orbit
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.
Location
Long March 12A Pad
Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center, People's Republic of China
Long March 12A Pad has witnessed the launch of 1 rockets, including 1 orbital launch attempts. While Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center, People's Republic of China, has been the site for 273 rocket launches.
Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center is a Chinese spaceport located between the Ejin, Alxa, Inner Mongolia and Hangtian Town, Jinta County, Jiuquan, Gansu Province. It is part of the Dongfeng Aerospace City (Base 10).
Rocket
China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation Long March 12A
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.
Landing
Core LM-12A F1
The Long March 12A first stage booster performed its entry burn with issues and the booster crashed within several kilometers of the landing pad. Booster LM-12A F1 last launched 12/23/2025 and has seen 0 successful launches and landings. First stage booster used on the 1st flight of CASC's Long March 12A rocket. Booster attempted to land downrange on its dedicated landing pad, but the entry-landing burn was abnormal and it impacted the ground several kilometers from the landing pad.
Long March 12A Landing Site - CZ-12A LZ
Landing site for first stage boosters of CASC’s Long March 12A rocket at Minqin County, Gansu Province, China.
Vertical Landing - VL
Vertical landing using engines
Agency
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.
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