Long March 12B (China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation)

Photo Credit: CASC/CACL

The Long March 12B, manufactured by China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation established in 1999, undertook its inaugural launch on 06/01/2026, is reusable and is active.

Long March 12B has 1 successful launches and 0 failed attempts, with a cumulative tally of 1 launches, currently with 0 pending launches in the pipeline.

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.

• Length: 72 m
• Diameter: 4.37 m
• LEO Capacity: 20000 kg
• SSO Capacity: 15000 kg

Manufacturer

China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation (CASC)

Chairman & President: Lei Fanpei

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.